The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Stars aim to put Clan and Panthers in shade
Dundee Stars are out to make it three wins from three this week as they host Glasgow Clan and Nottingham Panthers at the Dundee Ice Arena.
The Stars have two big opportunities to rediscover the fine form they had before Covid halted their hot streak back in December as they had won six of their last seven matches.
However, two defeats between two isolation periods had interrupted that form, but a victory against Manchester Storm on Thursday has given them the chance to take a full six points from three home games in four days.
Dundee led the way all night against the Storm, with Charlie Combs’ goal from a rebound opening the scoring after five minutes.
While Tyson Fawcett did pull Manchester back on to level terms in the 27th minute, Connor Sills restored the Stars’ lead before the end of the second period.
Two goals inside the last 14 seconds of the match from Dillon Lawrence and Sebastian Bengtsson secured the win for the Tayside team and moved them back above Glasgow and into eighth place.
If Omar Pacha’s men pick up another four points this weekend they could potentially climb above Coventry Blaze and be just a point behind Manchester and Guildford Flames, who are tied for fifth.
First up for the Stars is a Scottish rivalry match against the Clan today and the two teams have only met once so far this season, with Dundee defending their home ice with a 5-2 win.
Dundee’s goals came from Combs, Gabriel Desjardins, Bengtsson, Sills and Timi Lahtinen, while Colton Yellow Horn and Cody Sol put up Glasgow’s two markers.
Malcom Cameron’s Clan have also not long been released from the Elite League Covid-19 Protocol as the Braehead-based club made their return on Tuesday.
Tomorrow, Stars play host to leaderless Nottingham Panthers, who relieved Tim Wallace of his coaching duties on January 5.
In the interim, veteran players Mark Matheson and Stephen Lee will pick up the reigns but they face a long weekend road trip as the Panthers play all three Scottish teams in three nights.
Nottingham visit Fife Flyers tonight after playing Glasgow Clan last night before rounding the weekend off in the City of Discovery.
Stars captain Drydn Dow shared his delight at making a winning start to this weekend’s trio of crucial games, saying: “It was very important for us to get that result and to get back to winning ways coming out of that break.
“With how close the standings are right now every point is crucial, so we need to continue this momentum going into the weekend games.”
Looking at what it will take to continue collecting points during this weekend’s matches, Dow continued: “We just need to keep doing the little things right.
“Coming out of the break there will be a few mistakes, so as long as we continue to play solidly defensively, focus on playing a simple game and capitalise when we get our opportunities – we will give ourselves the best chance for success.”
Face-off times for this weekend’s matches are at 7pm tonight and 5pm tomorrow.
Fife Flyers meanwhile entertain a Nottingham Panthers side tonight which has been boosted by the signing of winger Edwin Hedberg from a Swedish club.
Panthers beat Flyers 4-2 in the Lace City on Sunday in the league and Fife also lost 5-1 at high-flying Sheffield Steelers on Wednesday in the Challenge Cup quarterfinal first-leg, and the Kirkcaldy club have now lost their last four games in all competitions.
Todd Dutiaume’s men prop up the league table with 13 points from 21 games while Nottingham have moved into fourth spot with 22 points from 21 fixtures, including 10 wins in regulation time against Fife’s total of six wins.
It’s the fourth time the teams have met this term and Panthers have won the last two and they have also won on their last two visits to Fife Ice Arena.
Dutiaume will look for the same effort and commitment and their willingness to blocking shots like they did at Sheffield.
He was disappointed that frustration crept into Fife’s game near the final whistle when his men lost their composure.