Fox hat-trick sets Stars up for win

Dundee see off Gardiner Conference rivals on teddy toss charity night

Stars claimed a huge victory over Gardiner Conference rivals Edinburgh last night at Dundee Ice Arena.

Anthony Mastrodicasa returned to the line-up for the first time in months and with less than a minute played a twoon-one break saw Marc-olivier Mimar set up Justin Fox for the opener.

Teddies filled the ice to celebrate Dundee’s first goal, an annual charity event in aid of Ninewells Children’s wards, TAYFM Mission Christmas and Wave102 Help for Kids.

Stars had further chances early on and Pavel Shegalo was forced into action to deny Gabriel Lévesque while Taylor Dickin hit the post in the fifth minute.

Travis Fullerton made a crucial save to keep Stars in front before Pavel Vorobyev did level the score at 6:33.

Fox netted another goal, this time on the powerplay, as his slapshot from the point flew past Shegalo in the ninth minute .

Dundee then found themselves with a a five-on-three situation but Omar Pacha’s men failed to capitalise.

Brian Hart extended the hosts’ lead before the end of the first after his shot hit the Capitals netminder and sneaked across the line.

The Caps hit the bar on their first powerplay before time expired in the first period.

Edinburgh twice went close, hitting the bar and the post before Shegalo denied Jimmy Jensen after a defensive error. At the other end a pile-up in front of the Dundee goal causes an Edinburgh forward to miss a wide-open goal.

Stars piled on the pressure and Malcolm Gould rattled the bar before Fox forced the goaltender to make a number of saves.

Rihards Grigors gave Dundee their fifth powerplay of the game but Shegalo kept the score at 3-1 going into the final break.

Fullerton’s quick reactions stopped Caps finding a way back into the game early in the third period.

Attacks were fast and furious at both ends but but both goalies stood firm.

Hart almost made it 4-1 but his shot crept wide before Igor Valeyev set up a tense finale with a shot that beat Fullerton from close range with just under three minutes to play.

Dundee were not giving up their first conference points easily though, and Fox bagged his hat-trick at 58:07 to finish off the Caps.

Stars will hope to take the momentum from last night’s game into the rest of the campaign.