It’s a double dose of heartache for the Clan
The Clan’s opening Challenge Cup weekend went from bad to worse on Sunday when Dundee Stars made it two wins from two with a 7-2 victory to take maximum points.
Zack Fitzgerald’s team made the trip to Dundee, the first of a five-week schedule of games on the road, looking to reclaim the two points lost in Saturday’s 6-3 home defeat.
The clock had barely reached the first minute when Anthony Beauregard was set up by Elgin Pearce to open the scoring for the home side as they carried on where they had left off the previous night.
And a couple of minutes later, the home fans were on their feet again in celebration of a second goal as Pearce went from provider to finisher. Clan were already in a tricky spot.
Duncan Speirs added a third for the Stars before the ten-minute mark and Dundee were well on the road to repeating what they did in Renfrewshire.
But the Clan rallied as Scott Pitt picked up his first goal of the season from a Mathieu Roy assist.
It took the Stars a little while to find their scoring touch again, but they restored their three-goal lead as Reilly O’Connor found the net.
Nolan LaPorte got into a scrap with Dundee’s Kris Inglis that earned both players a five-minute penalty.
The wind was taken out of the Clan sails as the Stars added two quick goals to kill off the contest.
Kevin Dufour’s blast from the blue line flew into Patrick Killeen’s net before Pearce’s second of the night made it 6-1 and any hope of some points on the road were gone.
LaPorte’s first goal of the season, from outside the crease, pulled another back, but it was to serve as a mere consolation for the visitors.
Beauregard’s second with around ten minutes to go bookended another good night for Dundee and coach Omar Pacha who made it a four-point weekend for them.
For Clan, it was another disappointing night, compounded by an injury to Craig Moore that is causing some concern .
The squad will be hoping to put a disappointing couple of days behind them when they face Fife Flyers in the Challenge Cup on Saturday night.