Stars could push on for play-offs if they see off Clan

Dundee Stars have another huge opportunity this weekend to increase their chances of making the Elite League play-offs.

Today’s opponents Glasgow Clan are one point ahead of Stars, who head to the West Midlands for their final league game against Coventry Blaze 24 hours later.

The Elite League table sees Stars sitting ninth, one point off the play-off spots. Clan are eighth with 39 points but have played one more game than Dundee, so a win can move Stars up into the top eight, while still holding their game in hand.

Omar Pacha’s men come into their big battle off the back of a 6-2 defeat in Cardiff but had a big win over Manchester Storm the previous night.

He said: “It is obviously a big home game and we want to build off the last one after taking points off of Manchester in the play-off race.

“We have to be strong defensively and hopefully we can create more offensive chances and stay disciplined.

“We are going to work a lot on our powerplay this week.”

This fixture will prove to be a critical moment in each side’s respective play-off pushes and the Canadian coach is hoping his side will come out with the two points needed to put themselves in the driving seat.

Pacha added: “It is a huge game. “There are eight games left and we are only one point behind them with a game in hand, so we can put ourselves in the driving seat.

“I don’t think it is game over if we lose but for me it is a massive, massive game and definitely the biggest game of the season so far.

“We have to focus on playing well defensively but also we have to keep getting to the net, creating chances to score and that is maybe something we didn’t do as much as we would have liked to over the course of last weekend.”

Face-off for today’s home game is 7pm, while tomorrow’s away clash starts at 5.30pm.