Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Stars in fight for a Giants-slaying
DUNDEE Stars have a chance to play in their first ever Elite League Play-Off Grand Final this weekend but first they must get past the reigning League and Challenge Cup Champions, Belfast Giants.
Stars have returned to the PlayOff Finals Weekend for only the second time in the club’s history and look to go one better than their semi-final elimination back in 2017, at the hands of Cardiff Devils.
However, they face the tough task of dispatching the tournament favourites and Adam Keefe’s men will certainly present a strong challenge for Dundee.
Throughout this season the two teams have engaged in battle 10 times, where the Stars have emerged victorious on three occasions, on both home and away ice.
Omar Pacha’s men are also not to be written off after ending Sheffield Steelers’ season last weekend with a shock result that saw them progress to the semis with a 5-3 aggregate victory. Meanwhile, Belfast took more than 125 minutes to slip past eighth seeds Coventry Blaze as the Elite League top dogs were held to a 1-1 draw and then another tie of 2-2, before they would qualify after penalty shots.
The Giants are coming into the semi-finals unbeaten in their last 10 games, while the Stars have won four of their five most recent fixtures.
The Northern Irish club have also outscored Dundee 41-20 over the 10 matches, but overtime has been required in only two, where Dundee won on home ice and Belfast took a home victory after a shootout.
Leading the Stars offence against the Giants this season has been their usual suspects in Charlie Combs and Sebastian Bengtsson, who have both totalled seven points through nine appearances.
Whereas J,J. Piccinich and David Goodwin have each buried nine and seven goals, respectively past Dundee this season,
Adam Morrison has also been in the Stars goal for all three wins against the Teal Men, while Brython Preece’s lone start ended in defeat.
Stars forward Alexandre Ranger explained what they must do to find success against the current league and cup champions.
He said: “Well first of all, we had to get some rest this week and get back to work in practice.
“We worked on tightening up a little bit in our d-zone, along with some other stuff but we just have to be ready when that puck drops on Saturday, it is as simple as that.”
The Stars have produced goals from across their line-up all season long, but recently they have found them in the perfect moments to bring themselves success.
Addressing their timely scoring and how to keep that going in the Finals weekend, Ranger added: “We just have to keep the fire in our eyes.
“I guess that is what worked for us this whole year.
“If we can keep battling and working hard then good things will happen for sure.”
Face-off for today’s semi-final in Nottingham is at 3pm and is live on Premier Sports.