The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pacha pleased with busy Stars
Coach content with points haul from ‘worst schedule’
Dundee Stars picked up their 100th home win and four points in a hectic run of games head coach Omar Pacha described as the “worst schedule of his career”.
The Kitmart Stars will now face reigning Elite League champions Cardiff Devils at home tomorrow before travelling south on Saturday for their first match against Guildford Flames.
Then on Sunday they welcome the Flames to Tayside and Pacha believes performances last week will stand his players in good stead.
He said: “It was good considering it is the worst schedule I have ever seen in my entire career.
“Fair play to the guys, they played four games in three different countries.
“I think against Sheffield we should have got the points but against Belfast it was a winnable game.
“We are playing good hockey and the good thing is that although we are not picking up the two points, we are still picking up points.
“From the five points we lost in the last five games, three were in overtime and two were in a one-goal game.
“There are still aspects of the game where we need to get better and that includes the powerplay.”
Dundee collected three of four points available in the last two matches and Pacha said: “Any time we beat a team that is supposed to be in contention for the title (Belfast), that gives us confidence and Milton Keynes was our fourth game in five days and we managed to play the best period of our season.
“That is surprising and I was actually really satisfied with it.”
In addition to the two points, Stars bagged their 100th home win in all Elite League competitions.
The Canadian added: “It is always good to get those records, especially in a game like that. It will go down in history as the 100th win and also as a really fun, entertaining and great atmosphere game.”
Pacha believes the points will come if his team continue to create the chances.
He said: “The guys played really well against Belfast but that just goes to show in this league, that if you bring it on a certain night you always give yourself a chance to win.
“The main thing so far this season is we are always giving ourselves a chance to win the hockey game.
“Once the bounces start going our way, the points will gather because eventually the points will come our way.”
Dundee had two injured players missing from their first game but were boosted by the return of Lukas Lundvald on Friday and, of Matt Bissonnette, Pacha said: “Hopefully he gets back Wednesday, if not then this weekend”.
Defensive play has been a strong point for the Stars this season and after facing 150 shots in the four games, they conceded just 11 goals.
Pacha said: “Our defensive unit of six are playing great and our goaltending is good.
“We have far too much firepower not to be producing and you saw it on Sunday in the third period. We created 10-15 Grade A scoring chances and it is going to come.”