Starslosederbyclash asFlyerseyeplay-offs

DUNDEE Stars’ promising season suffered a jolt when they lost 3-1 to rivals Fife Flyers last night.

The ambitious Dundee team iced only 12 skaters at Kirkcaldy and top points gatherer Nico Sachetti looks to have picked up an injury as he sat out for a lengthy spell.

To add to Stars’ woes, the club says goodbye to Jerry Pollastrone today when he flies out to join a Swedish club, while skipper BrockMcPherson is out for an indefinite spell with an upper body injury.

Last night Stars went ahead when Scots-born marksman BariMcKenzie scored his fourth goal of the season after only 30 seconds.

But three unanswered strikes earned the points for Flyers, who move two points closer to Coventry Blaze who occupy the eighth and final play-off place.

Justin DaCosta opened Fife’s account after 12 minutes and Bobby Chaumont put the home side further ahead five minutes later.

Ned Lukacevic tied up the points with a third 12 minutes from time to take Fife to 32 points.

Edinburgh continue to prop up the table with 23 points.

Second-placed Braehead Clan needed a penalty shoot-out to beat Edinburgh Capitals in their Elite League clash last night.

The Clan fell behind to Curtis Leinweber’s double in the second period but Ed McGrane made it 3-3 and MattTowe and Joe Cullen settled the shoot-out in their favour, Leinweber having again put Edinburgh in front.

The Sheffield Steelers moved third after they beat the Coventry Blaze 5-1 while the Nottingham Panthers lost to the Hull Stingrays.

Stefan Meyer scored four of the Steelers’ goals, Maxime Lacroix with the other — all after Shea Guthrie had given Coventry the lead.

The Stingrays upset Nottingham in a shoot-out following a 3-3 draw.

Jereme Te n d l e r scored twice for the East Yorkshire surprise package and though he then missed in the shootout, fellow goalscorer Guillaume Doucet converted his attempt to clinch victory.

Dundee gave a debut to new Canadian defenceman James Isaccs in Saturday’s clash with Cardiff Devils but the Welsh side still chalked up their seventh straight win with a 3-1 victory.

It was Dundee’s fourth straight road defeat despite Nico Sachetti opening the scoring after eight minutes.

Devils were back on level terms four minutes later through Brad Plumton and went in front in the 27th minute from Ziga Svete.

They wrapped up the points with 23 seconds of the period remaining, Tomas Kurka netting with a shorthanded goal to give them a two-goal lead.

Fife Flyers crashed 6-4 away to league leaders Belfast Giants.