The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Ice hockey: Stars return to winning ways against Clan.
Fife Flyers handed a wake-up call by Challenge Cup holders
After a disappointing defeat to Belfast on Saturday, Dundee Stars bounced back with a strong performance to see off Glasgow Clan 2-1 last night.
With the late news of Fabrizio Ricci and Glasgow’s Matt Haywood’s one game suspensions, both teams had to adjust their lines ahead of the Challenge Cup Group A match.
Stars were on the penalty kill after Petr Chaloupka was boxed for two minutes on an interference call but Omar Pacha’s men killed it off with ease. After returning to full strength Stars were straight back on the attack and a scramble in front of Joel Rumpel’s goal caused alarm but the Clan keeper recovered.
Lundvald received his second assault in two nights as he was pounced on by Gerrard Hanson after delivering a clean hit. This left Dundee on the powerplay for four minutes as the Clan player picked up two minutes for kneeing and another two for roughing. Glasgow managed to kill off the first half of the four-minute powerplay before the first period ended.
Early in the second, Lundvald stole possession in the slot but the Dane could not find a way past Rumpel. He then took a hit as he entered the Clan zone again and that drew a penalty against Tyson Wilson for tripping. The penalty was killed before Lukas was boarded, which led to a delayed penalty. Stars got an extra skater on while they still had possession and with the extra man, they worked the puck around the zone and after making one save Rumpel was unable to keep out Jordan Cownie’s shot off the rebound at 24:48.
Chaloupka returned to the box on a holding call in the 28th minute but it was again easily killed off by Dundee. In the 30th minute a bad line change left the home side short at the back and Scott Pitt took off down the ice and fired a shot that Pontus Sjogren got a piece of but was unable to deflect it wide of his post and the game was level.
Mike Sullivan rattled his shot off of the bar before Cownie fired wide on the rebound, just seconds after the man advantage had ended. The second period ended with still no side in front, setting up a thrilling third period.
There was an early chance for Dundee’s Brian Hart but the Glasgow goalie held his shot to freeze the play.
A quick counter attack by Stars saw Lundvald pass to the wide open Garrigan, who fired his shot first-time and that forced a magnificent diving save out of Rumpel. The game fell to a low tempo with the teams going back and forth but moments later a beautiful solo effort from Matt Marquardt put Dundee deservedly back in front. He dodged a body-check before rounding Rumpel and coolly slid the puck into the net at 52:52.
Pete Russel’s Clan were looking for a quick equaliser and Connolly almost found one when he got through alone but his slapshot was easily held by Sjögren.
Marquardt was boxed for hooking in the 57th minute and left Stars fans on the edge of their seat, praying for another strong defensive effort from their team.
Not only did Dundee deliver, but they secured the two points with some fine blocking in the final minute as Glasgow desperately tried to find an opening.
Twenty four hours earlier, Kyle Baun claimed two goals as Challenge Cup holders Belfast Giants got their defence off to a winning start with a 4-2 road win at Stars, whose scorers were Fabrizio Ricci and Matt Marquardt.
Man of the match Darcy Murphy blasted a treble as Challenge Cup holders Belfast Giants last night handed out a wake-up call to Fife Flyers.
Murphy’s final goal came within three minutes of the start of the final session and was unassisted and short-handed.
The 3-1 road win was not unexpected as Giants stamped their authority on the game at the outset and outshot the home side 15-8 in the first session.
It was 1-0 at the end of the first period and 2-0 after the next 20 minute session.
Scott Aarssen fired home a slapshot with 41 seconds left, with Carlo Finucci and Evan Stoflet assisting, to give home fans their only joy on the night.
On Saturday, Flyers edged out Glasgow Clan in Challenge Cup Group B. Paul Crowder netted the winning shot in a penalty shoot-out after the match had ended 4-4.