Stars lose out

DUNDEE Stars finished fourth in the end-of-season play-offs after a 7-5 defeat by Guildford Flames in the bronze medal match yesterday.

The Stars played their fellow semi-final losers after going down 6-0 to the Belfast Giants in Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena on Saturday.

Dundee head coach Omar Pacha gave British goaltender Brython Preece some game time, but the game started with a slow tempo before soon building into a lively game of end-to-end action.

The Flames took the lead as ex-Star Jordan Cownie cut through the Dundee defence before beating Preece with a backhanded shot into the top left corner after six minutes.

However, Canadian winger Philippe Sanche drew the Stars level just a few moments later.

Paul Dixon’s men quickly restored their lead as Kyle Locke turned home Jake Bolton’s pass in the 14th minute.

The Surrey side held on to their onegoal lead after the first period, but the Stars had been creating a lot of chances.

The second period started with Dundee getting the equaliser through Swedish sensation Sebastian Bengtsson, who beat the Flames keeper with a rising shot from out on the left wing.

It took Pacha’s men less than two minutes to tie the game, but they then found themselves on a penalty kill at the halfway-mark as Gabriel Desjardins was punished for a tripping foul.

The Stars did survive being down a man for two minutes, but they conceded two quick goals shortly after.

Guildford’s third goal was created through luck, as Preece made one save and sent the puck skywards, but Cownie reacted quickest to score.

Then just 22 seconds later, Ian McNulty burst forward and carried the puck across goal, before taking it around Preece and firing home to make it 4-2.

Dundee had a late powerplay, but failed to cut into the lead before the final intermission – although they did score on 43 minutes when Charlie Combs found the top corner and, five minutes later, Connor Sills buried his shot from the slot to make it a tied game once more.

The Stars then opened up their first lead of the game when Michael Poirier’s slapshot snuck through the legs of Kevin Lindskoug on 53 minutes. But 61 seconds later, Levi Cable broke away and beat Preece with a quick shot on his glove side to make it even at 5-5.

With less than two minutes to play, Brett Ferguson flung the puck past Preece to give the Flames a late lead.

Pacha then gambled it all and took Preece off for an extra skater, but a missed pass by Dundee allowed Owen Griffiths to break away and make it 7-5.

Dundee Stars lost their bronze medal play-off against Guildford Flames.