Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Missed chances cost Stars as they bow out
KITMART Dundee Stars were el i m i nated from the Challenge Cup last night as they lost 4-1 in the second leg of their q u a r te r -f i n a l a g a i n st Glasgow Clan.
Speaking after the match, Stars head coach, Omar Pacha said: “I thought in the first period we played great and created a lot of chances. However, we couldn’t bury our chances.
“Clan played a good defensive game but they were sitting back with three or four guys on every rush.”
The match opened with the play going from end-to-end and both teams playing strong defensive games with neither side being able to get a clean shot off.
However, a few plays later, Clan headed up the ice with a two-onone chance and Jordan Heywood netted the opener in the fifth minute.
After testing the Glasgow defences, Stars levelled after 10 minutes, through defenceman Craig Gans.
The first period ended with the teams still tied but when the match restarted, it had a slower tempo.
However, the atmosphere was brought to life as Clan defender Linden Springer struck the puck under Dundee netminder Alex Leclerc in 34 minutes.
Moments later, Glasgow’s Scott Jacklin won a foot-race and beat off two defenders to a loose puck.
Once in possession, Jacklin flicked a shot on target but an approaching Leclerc did enough to block the shot with his leg.
However, the rebound sprung out to Mathieu Roy who fired the puck into a wide open goal after 36 minutes, doubling Clan’s advantage.
The Stars started brightly in the third period but ended up conceding a short-handed goal in the dying moments of the match.
A late pwoerplay chance arose for the Stars as Matt Pufahl was punished for a slashing foul but it was the home team that took advantage of the situation.
Clan captain Matt Haywood was was played in on goal by Mikael Lidhammar and he was left uncontested to shoot past Leclerc on 55 minutes.
Stars now prepare to face Belfast Giants at home on Friday.