Frustrating weekend for Stars with double defeat

ICE HOCKEY: Pacha’s side pay for missed chances against Steelers and Giants

DUNDEE STARS 3 BELFAST GIANTS 6

Back-to-back weekend defeats halted Dundee Stars’ Elite League momentum.

Head coach Omar Pacha said: “It was overall a frustrating weekend.

“I think as a team we did not play to our strengths and we did not do the little things right. You can see that against the best team in the league and they will make you pay.

“The first five minutes we had chances and I think we just need that lucky bounce to get us started but at the same time there is no excuse.

“The main difference tonight was when their guys had it in front of the net they scored goals.”

Dundee, shut out 4-0 at Sheffield on Saturday, were at full-strength last night against the league leaders after Matt Bissonnette returned.

Charles Corcoran was first to go close for the hosts but Belfast goalie Tyler Beskorowany denied him. Stars’ Pontus Sjögren then saved a Kyle Baun effort.

Stars created some dangerous attacks early in the period but Beskorowany produced some terrific stops to keep the hosts at bay.

In the 11th minute, a Darcy Murphy shot was saved by the leg of Sjögren but David Rutherford was there for Giants to net the rebound. From the restart the visitors went close again, Lewis Hook firing a high shot that hit Sjögren’s face mask. Adam Keefe’s side started to control the game and Hunter Bishop rattled a shot off the far post.

A good period of play followed for Stars but it ended with Connor Cox’s shot being held by the Belfast netminder.

Giants doubled their lead when Hook fired a snapshot in off the underside of the crossbar in the 18th minute.

Blair Riley was also denied by the head of Sjögren before Stars had the final chance of the period when a shot from Cox went all the way through and slipped past Brian Hart. Before it could reach Francois Bouchard, Beskorowany snatched the easy finish away.

Just 51 seconds into the second period Hook netted his second goal of the evening but, straight from the face-off, Dundee won possession and Corcoran fired a shot past the Belfast goalie.

Lukas Lundvald almost pulled it back to a one-goal game but saw his low shot saved by the toe of Beskorowany.

The Canadian keeper made another save moments later to deny Hart. The rebound dropped into the goal crease but Hart was unable to get a strong enough touch to get it across the line.

Dundee made an excellent break while a man down and after rounding the net, Fabrizio Ricci played a pass to Johann Andersson who was denied on his first attempt before hitting the side netting on the follow-up.

Dustin Johner shot past Sjögren from close range in the 29th minute to make it 4-1 and 32 seconds later Giants’ top scorer, Blair Riley, finished between the legs of the Stars goalie.

Jordan Cownie gave Stars some hope with a goal just five seconds from the end of the second period but it was three minutes from the end before Shawn Boutin made it 5-3.

Stars pulled their netminder but the only goal came in the last second when Baun shot into the empty home net.

Matt Bissonnette: Returned to Stars’ line-up last night.