The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Stars’ season can still be turned around – Pacha
Dundee head for Storm in bid to end seven-game losing streak as Fife host Panthers
Dundee Stars aim to turn their form around tonight and a pick up two points away to Manchester Storm as Omar Pacha visits his former employers.
The Tayside team are ninth in the Elite League and head into tonight’s clash in Altrincham on he back of qualification for the challenge Cup quarter-finals despite a penalty shots defeat at Glasgow Clan.
Pacha, whose side has lost its last seven games, is hoping to return to winning ways this weekend.
He said: “Preparations have been good – we focused on ourselves and in areas we want to improve.
“Again we were focusing on a lot of the offensive side, putting pucks to the net, rebounds and quick shots because everything happens so quick in Manchester.
“It is more vital now that we pick up points and it is important that we realise that we have played some good hockey.
“We are in every single game but every game is just such a challenge that it is going to be hard but we need to start getting the full two points rather than just one point here and there.
“You look at our form in the league – we have seven points from 10 games– but considering everything with the travel we are not in a bad situation.
“The frustrating part is not getting more points as of now but it is a good chance for us to get right back in it and steal a game on the road.”
Last weekend Storm clinched a 5-2 win over Coventry Blaze in Manchester before losing 5-3 in Coventry.
Dallas Ehrhardt, Ciaran Long, Evan Richardson and Riley Stadel all found the net across the two games as did Luke Moffatt and Rob Linsmayer, who bagged a brace each.
Storm won the last clash between the sides on penalties. Dryden Dow provided Dundee’s only goal after Rob Linsmayer had given the visitors a 1-0 lead. Jordan Cownie, Linsmayer, Charlie Corcoran, Stadel, Matt Marquardt, Marcus Basara, François Bouchard and Shawn Boutin all missed their penalties.
Luke Moffatt scored the gamewinning-penalty shot to seal the win for Ryan Finnerty’s team.
Stars winger Lukas Lundvald is on a six-game point streak and has picked up eight points in that time, with two goals and six assists. Defenceman Drydn Dow also has a point scoring streak of the three games, where he has assisted on four goals.
Face-off is at 7pm in Altrincham, before Stars host Nottingham Panthers on Sunday at 5pm.
Meanwhile Paul Crowder features prominently in a video specially produced by Fife Flyers for social media to promote their game against pace-setters Nottingham Panthers at Kirkcaldy tonight (7.15pm).
The former Cardiff Devils marksman also sits proudly at the top of the league points charts, with 19 points produced by six goals and 13 assists in eight games.
The Canadian will be tightly marked by Panthers, who are visiting Rosslyn Street for the first time this term.
Flyers are on a roll having won their last seven games including a 3-1 road away to bottom club Sheffield Steelers on Wednesday.
Panthers lost their last game – a 6-1 thrashing at Belfast Giants – but have 16 points, one more than Fife, who have played four fewer fixtures than Nottingham.