ROUND-UP Stars up against it

DUNDEE CCS Stars have it all to do after losing 4-1 at home to Cardiff Devils in the Challenge Cup semi-final, first leg.

Stars were minus key men Cale Tanaka, captain Joey Sides and Craig Cescon as the visitors netted three final-period goals to seal an emphatic win.

Cardiff broke the deadlock when a shot from Gleason Fournier was tipped in by Jake Morissette.

That’s the way the score stood until the final period, when, with two minutes gone, Devils were reduced to four skaters when Fournier was given two minutes for slashing.

Despite the home side dominating the powerplay, the visitors held firm and returned to full strength without conceding.

Cardiff doubled their lead against the run of play after 49 minutes when Joey Martin squeezed the puck past Joe Fallon.

Dundee’s response was immediate and Kevin Bruijsten pulled a goal back just under two minutes later.

However, before the home fans had time to celebrate, Andrew Hotham struck to restore Devils’ two-goal advantage.

With two minutes remaining, Devils made the game secure with a fourth goal from Sean Bentivoglio to give the Welshmen a three-goal cushion going into the second leg on December 21.

Stars Coach Marc LeFebvre said: “To play against a team like Cardiff with three key players missing is tough but to play them with three missing along with two or three not turning up in the game, is impossible. I’ve had a word with them and they know what I expect.”