The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Third derby victory for Stars
Dundee Stars made it back-to-back home wins in the Elite Ice Hockey League as they overcame rivals Fife Flyers for a 4-2 win – their third derby victory of the season.
Stars head coach Jeff Mason gave two players – defenceman Chris Lijdsman and forward Johan Eriksson – their home debuts as his men moved joint eighth with 12 points from 18 games.
After a goalless opening period, the Flyers almost went ahead just minutes of play into the middle session but Mikael Johansson saw his effort rebound straight off the Dundee post.
Moments later Dundee would go up the ice and open the scoring.
A perfectly-timed crossice pass from Philippe Sanche found Drydn Dow at the back post and he sent his shot past Shane Owen in the 24th minute. Stars had another powerplay cut short as they picked up a penalty just 20 seconds into their man advantage but when they got another chance to utilise their special teams Elijiah Barriga made no mistake and doubled their lead on 35 minutes.
With Fife’s Janne Kivilahti in the box for slashing, Barriga beat Owen with a low driven slapshot from off the blueline.
Todd Dutiaume’s men responded in the final minute of the second stanza as Kivilahti smashed home a loose puck with 45 seconds left on the clock.
In the third period Dundee would start with a powerplay after former Stars forward Chris Lawrence was punished for slashing Sanche after the whistle at the end of the second period, giving the home side another chance to re-establish their twogoal lead.
However, it was again cut short as Sanche was called for a hooking foul 32 seconds in but it would not stop Dundee from netting their third goal.
Ian Parker bagged his first goal for Stars after slotting home Craig Garrigan’s dropped pass, with his low shot slipping underneath an unsighted Owen.
Flyers would make it an interesting game with just three minutes to go as Lawrence played in Zach Phillips, who beat Anton Svensson with a quick wrist shot into the top of the net.
Dutiaume gambled by calling a timeout and pulling his goaltender to go all out for the equaliser but Sanche would break free and skate the puck into the gaping goal to seal a 4-2 win.
To complete a miserable weekend for Flyers, Nathanael Halbert slotted 13 seconds from time to earn Coventry Blaze a 3-2 victory in last night’s Viaplay Elite League clash in Kirkcaldy.
Blaze, coached by former Fife favourite Danny Stewart, had to come from behind to claim the points after Zack Phillips netted after 15 minutes to put the home side 1-0 ahead.
Blaze responded through Brady Norrish two minutes later but Fife edged 2-1 ahead after 23 minutes through Janne Laakkonen.
The visitors levelled after 36 minutes when John Curran found the net.
Fife hit penalty problems – Jonas Emmerdahl was handed a 20-minute penalty for checking to the head – and Blaze’s Halbert netted the winner on the powerplay in a game in which the home side were outshot 35-19.