Flyers’ derby win caps poor weekend for Stars

ICE HOCKEY: Dundee urged to regroup after two defeats in 24 hours

Fife Flyers inflicted more misery on Dundee Stars yesterday after clinching victory in the first derby of the new season.

The Kirkcaldy outfit, who had lost at home to Glasgow Clan 24 hours earlier, registered their first Challenge Cup points with a 2-0 success on Tayside.

The goals came in the final session of a tight game with Chase Schaber and Danick Gauthier breaking Stars hearts.

Omar Pacha’s side will need to regroup after a weekend which began badly with a 3-1 Elite League defeat at Manchester Storm.

Egils Kalns had almost put the Stars ahead after he flew across Flyers’ end but Morrison tracked him well before diving to get across and stop a delayed shot.

Stars then had a chance on the man advantage when Sam Jones was boxed after 14 minutes for holding and 40 seconds into the powerplay Fife’s Michal Gutwald sent the puck into the stands from his own end, making it a five-onthree advantage.

Dundee dominated the opening minutes of the second period but failed to find a breakthrough.

Brett Stovin had a chance to change that 32 seconds into the third period as he went on a breakaway into the Fife end but Morrison pulled off a flashy glove save to deny the Star.

Chase Schaber finally broke the deadlock 23 seconds later.

Kyle Just sent his first effort wide of goal before having the puck returned to him and his second shot was straight into the chest of Leclerc.

But the Stars keeper could not hold the puck and it spilt out back to the ice where Schaber quickly applied the finish.

The Stars were handed two late chances to equalise as Mike Cazzola and Jones both took late penalties. The Flyers managed to kill off one of the powerplays but with seconds remaining on the Jones minor, Pacha called his timeout and pulled his netminder.

Even with the last-chance gamble Dundee still could not find a way past Morrison and Danick Gauthier would seal the victory for Fife with 39 seconds on the clock.

Pacha must now pick up his young squad and get them refocused and motivated ahead of next weekend’s double home header against Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers.

On Saturday Elgin Pearce counted for Stars in their league loss at Storm, with Tyler Fawcett (2) and Cam Critchlow giving the Manchester side a 3-0 lead.

Fife crashed to defeat in a five-goal thriller in Kirkcaldy with Glasgow picking up the points in a 3-2 win.

Goals from Mathieu Roy, Chad Rau and Scott Tanski saw Clan race into a 3-0 lead. Fife hit back with two goals from Danick Gauthier and debutant Tim Crowder deep into the final session.

Head coach Todd Dutiaume said: “We had a lull in the mid-section and lost a lot of momentum. It is disappointing as I thought we had some positive competitive signs in pre-season.”