The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Stars chief Pacha looks to build on the positives after victory
Stars got ‘monkey off their back’ with overtime victory
Dundee Stars head coach Omar Pacha is delighted that his team have got the “monkey off their back” after ending a nine-game losing run.
The 4-3 defeat of Milton Keynes Lightning on Friday night put an overtime drought behind them.
Pacha said: “It was great to get that first overtime win of the season after being unsuccessful so many times.
“It was a great win and the way we did it in overtime was even better because we got that monkey off our back.
“I do not think it was our best game and the fact we won and did not play our best hockey is a big positive.
“We found a way to win and that is the main thing during the season, especially at times when you do not play your best.
“I thought we did some good things but like I said I do not think it was our best game. But that does not take away from some guys stepping up at a clutch moment.
“I think the guys battled hard and it was a great character win because we were down again by two goals. To get one late in third and in overtime it showed a lot of great character.
“It was a good third period and there is nothing to take away from the players because I thought they had a great third period and in overtime, I thought we played our best overtime period of the year.
“So, there is a lot of positives to build on and we will try to get better this week in regard to the game on Saturday.”
When asked if that key victory could be a turning point in their season, Pacha replied: “We hope so but it is only one game. If this helps us get four or five wins in a row then I think you can look back at this game as being a turning point, but it was just one game and we will just have to approach next Saturday as another mustwin.”
Stars travel to Sheffield on Saturday and host Belfast on Sunday, clubs that notched big wins last weekend.
Pacha said: “I think we have proven all year that we are in every single game, so there is no reason why we cannot go into Sheffield and be confident of getting a result.
“It is the same with Belfast. Yeah, they are historically top teams but we have proven since the start of the season that we can compete against everybody.
“Having (Matt) Bissonnette back made a big difference,” he added.
“I liked some of our offensive combinations, and hopefully we get Drydn Dow back for Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Fife Flyers coach Todd Dutiaume admitted he was frustrated with his side’s start at home to bottom side MK Lightning on Sunday.
The Kirkcaldy outfit banged in four third-period goals in nine minutes to beat the league’s bottom side and stay top alongside Belfast Giants and Nottingham Panthers.
Dutiuame said: “We needed to come out with a high intensity as it was their third game in three nights.
“We looked a little pedestrian and that was a source of frustration, but I thought we came out better in the second.
“The frustrating thing was that we were doing a lot of the right things and playing better than we were in the first but they struck first.
“At the end of the second the momentum swung to them and they had a couple of power plays and you are thinking it is going to be one of nights when things aren’t dropping for us.
“We had opportunities around the net but the third speaks for itself. They came out and that is the team people here want to watch: exciting dynamic and controlling the puck. I believe they tired, and we took advantage.
“Playing the right way and doing the right things we ultimately got the win.
“That is another three-point weekend for these guys, and it is up to us to keep this rolling.”
Fife are next in action on Friday when they host Belfast Giants in the Elite League before they travel to take on Manchester Storm on Saturday and Coventry Blaze on Sunday.