The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Stars ready to take on steelers
Confidence is high after Stars stun Manchester Storm
Gabriel Levesque believes Dundee Stars’ victory over Manchester Storm could be a turning point in their injury-hit season.
The Montreal-born centre slotted two goals – the first after four and the second after 49 minutes – in the 5-3 victory on Sunday at The Dundee Ice Arena.
However, he was happier to praise the team effort rather than dwell on his own personal double.
Now, Stars must prepare for tomorrow’s Challenge Cup, quarterfinal, first-leg against Sheffield Steelers.
Stars had lost seven straight games before Sunday and were outshot 30-22 overall with 13 of them coming in the second session against five in return.
But a third-period surge in which Stars scored three goals saw them home to a memorable win.
He continued: “This was a bounce back performance. We were playing one of the top teams in the league and recent results have not been the best.
“We played for the full 60 minutes and if we can progress from this then we can start winning hockey games.”
The victory still leaves Dundee in second-bottom spot with 15 points from 23 games.
Edinburgh Capitals, who lost 4-2 at home to Coventry Blaze on Sunday after leading 2-0, prop up the table with four straight defeats and six points from 22 games.
Braehead Clan have slipped to 10th with three defeats in a row and they are Stars next target.
The Glasgow club have 22 points from 22 games while Coventry Blaze and Milton Keynes Lightning both have 23 points.
Coventry have played 23 games and Milton Keynes 25 and Fife Flyers are above them with 26 points from only 19 fixtures.
Fife earned two points in a 5-2 win over Milton Keynes to complete a home Elite League double after beating the English side 3-2 on their last visit.
Four goals in the second-period did the damage and the Kirkcaldy club outshot their opposition 30-21.
Jeff Hutchins, Fife’s assistant coach, said his men had been well-prepared for the clash.