STARS OUT TO MAKE AMENDS IN DERBY

Dundee Stars are looking to make a bright start to the new year when they host Fife Flyers tonight.

The Stars will be keen to seal a valuable two points and extend their winning streak at home to five games against the Flyers, but also to start a new chapter after ending 2021 on a low.

On Hogmanay Dundee suffered a heavy 7-1 defeat at the hands of Belfast Giants – their first game in more than two weeks as the team were released from isolation.

However, Flyers chief Todd Dutiaume and his players find themselves in a similar situation as tonight will be their first outing since December 12 after they also entered the Elite Ice Hockey League’s Covid protocol.

Tonight’s clash was to be the two teams’ fourth meeting in 15 days, but due to both clubs having to isolate this will be the first time they have clashed since October 30.

Omar Pacha’s Stars sit eighth in the league standings with 13 points from 18 games, – just three points more than bottom side Flyers have after 17 games.

Dundee defender Craig Moore explained how the Stars have been handed a “reality check” after their tough restart. He said: “Prior to our isolation period we were on a good run of results, but we knew it was always going to be a tough game away in Belfast right out of isolation.

“I think we need to learn from that, and get back to what made us successful, which was keeping things simple, playing together as a unit and focusing on defence first knowing the offence will come from this.

“Fife are now in the same boat we were in on Friday, so I think we have to come out the gate flying and put a lot of pressure on them from the drop, get ourself into the game early and take it from there.”

Tonight’s home match is sold out, but there is an online stream via Dundee Stars TV. Face-off 5pm.