Stars scoring sensation on cloud nine after win

DUNDEE Stars top scorer Sebastian Bengtsson admitted he was left both stunned and amazed after the Dundee Ice Arena exploded when he hit the net to put the Stars into this weekend’s playoff semi-finals.

The Stars had taken a 1-0 lead from their away leg against Sheffield Steelers but soon fell 3-0 behind at home on Sunday, as they battled the Elite League runners-up in the quarter-finals.

However, just before the end of the second period, Kalvis Ozols finally ended Rok Stojanovic’s hot streak and got Dundee on the board with a powerplay goal.

Then in the third period and with less than eight minutes left to play, Bengtsson, pictured, tied the series score at 3-3 and the Swede soon netted again, just 65 seconds from the end of regulation time to put the Tayside team in front.

A last-minute gamble by Sheffield then allowed Dillon Lawrence to launch in a fourth goal of the night to make it 5-3 on aggregate, as he shot into an empty goal from his own half.

Reflecting on an unforgettable night at the DIA, Bengtsson said: “We were down 3-0 and we needed something to get ourselves going and then Kalvis scored a big goal to get us started.

“Then, I got the second one and it felt really good and the third one felt even better, then the whole arena exploded, and it was unbelievable.

“My memory is still a bit blacked out from the goals, I cannot remember too much but when I looked at the videos after, it is incredible and the sound of it was amazing.

“It was truly a great experience.”

The 27-year-old, from Stockholm, then discussed how he has been one of the key players that has regularly produced for the Stars in crucial moments throughout this season.

He said: “That is my role, I am goal scorer.

“I do not know what I do different to everyone else and it is hard to say what is different about my game, but my job is to score goals and produce offensively.

“So, that is just how I play, and it is always a great feeling to score goals, bring something to the team and to get those big wins are always fun.

“Now we go to Nottingham.” The Stars have now returned to the Play-off Finals Weekend for the first time since 2017.

This time they hope to make it past the semi-final stage, but Belfast Giants now stand in their way.

Bengtsson added: “It is one game and we have beaten them before on a couple of occasions this season.

“We know they are a good team and we know we have to stay out of the box and play them five-on-five.”