The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bouchard backs Stars to put points on board
Forward expects overtime victory to boost Dundee’s confidence
Stars forward Francois Bouchard believes if the bounces come then Dundee can start to collect more victories.
Bouchard sealed the team’s first overtime win of the season after losing their last eight games that required extra-time.
The Canadian’s sixth goal of the season in the 64th minute won Dundee the extra point after a tight encounter with Milton Keynes Lightning after the sides finished tied at 3-3.
Bouchard said: “It felt unreal. It is obviously good to score the goal but it was good for the team as well to get the win in overtime, I think it was our seventh or eighth overtime game this season.
“So, I think it is good for the guys and to get the win, obviously for me it was good to get the goal, so that was a good feeling.”
Last Friday’s win also snapped a nine-game losing streak for Stars and the relief of getting that win was just what the team required.
Bouchard added: “I think that was all we needed, just one win, and now we can have the confidence that we can do it again.”
Stars currently occupy 10th place in the league standings, irrespective of their good performances.
The 30-year old Quebec native says the team are happy with how things have gone.
Bouchard said: “We are having a good season so far, we just need to get the bounces in our favour in a couple games.
“I think we are all still happy with the game that we are playing, our work ethic during practice is good as well and we are also working on some things.
“We have showed we can play against anybody, we know we can win every game and that is the way we should be thinking.”
Bouchard, who has been part of two American Hockey League Calder Cup championship-winning teams, added: “I think we are fast team and we do a lot of good things.
“We are good defensively and we have a great goaltender as well. I think we have a little bit of everything.
“We have shown we can score. It is easy to say but maybe if we score some more goals we win some more games.
“Down the other end, we just need guys to shoot the puck a bit more but we have a lot of strength everywhere and it is just a matter of time.
“I am not really worried about the team, we have a good bunch of guys and in every position we are pretty strong.”
This weekend sees Stars travel to Sheffield before returning home to take on Belfast Giants for their first ever Pink the Rink night.
Bouchard predicts a tough trip to Yorkshire tomorrow but is confident in their chances of getting a result.
He said: “We had a tough start to the season in terms of travelling and it is going to be a tough one in Sheffield.
“Every game is there for the taking, you can tell in this league that anybody can beat anybody but there is no bad teams or easy nights.
“We are always in the game and always there and that is the good thing that we have to build on.”
Sunday’s home game against Belfast faces-off at 5pm.