The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Stars’ Challenge Cup hopes hang by thread
Steelers build five-goal lead over Dundee for next week’s return leg
DUNDEE STARS 2 SHEFFIELD STEELERS 7
Stars were left with a mountain to climb after the first leg of their Challenge Cup quarter-final at Dundee Ice Arena last night.
The hosts were still without Anthony Mastrodicasa, Chris Lawrence and Johan Andersson, with Ben Edmonds still on international duty with Great Britain.
Sheffield stole the puck from the opening face-off and got the game’s first shot on goal after just a few seconds.
The visitors continued to put Stars under pressure with a number of shots but few troubled Stars’ goaltender Travis Fullerton.
Stars survived that early onslaught and created a chance to take the lead but Ervins Mustukovs tipped the shot over.
A delayed penalty against Sheffield allowed the home side to step up the pressure and a well-worked passing move around the zone set up Jordan Cownie to fire his shot past Mustukovs in the 14th minute to give Dundee the lead against Sheffield for the first time this season.
Penalties saw Sheffield with a five-on- three powerplay and Jonas Westerling took advantage just before the 16-minute mark.
Steelers netted another quick goal, again on the powerplay, as a shot from Andreas Valdix found its way past the Dundee goalie at 16.36.
Stars started the second period with chances but they could not find the net.
A moment of magic from Ben O’Connor made it 3-1 to Sheffield as he slid the puck around Fullerton after 27 minutes.
Harding then missed an opportunity to tip it past Mustukovs from the edge of the crease before he almost went clean through the Steelers defence but was muscled off the puck.
They visitors almost extended their lead as they pickpocketed the Stars defence but Fullerton bailed them out.
Taylor Dickin gave Dundee a lifeline after he pulled it around multiple defenceman before firing the puck past the netminder with 21 minutes left.
A diving block by Marc-Olivier Mimar prevented Sheffield from grabbing an early goal in the final period before Mustukovs denied Harding again.
David Phillips fired a loose puck over the shoulder of Fullerton to restore the Steelers’ two-goal cushion in 44 minutes. Levi Nelson then fired high into the net to extend that lead to 5-2.
The visitors grabbed a sixth goal through Phillipsbefore a fast move after the restart made it 7-2 through Matt Marquardt.
That third period charge by Sheffield has put the odds heavily in their favour for the second leg on Tuesday in Yorkshire.
Both clubs return to league action this weekend as Dundee face Edinburgh Capitals at home on Friday evening.