The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Stars fail in revenge bid as Flyers go down to Belfast
DUNDEE STARS 2 NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS 3
A much-improved performance from Dundee Stars set up a tense finish on home ice yesterday as Nottingham Panthers held on to complete a weekend double over Omar Pacha’s side.
Stars were out to avenge their 6-1 loss in Nottingham just 24 hours earlier and got off to a good start as new signing Alex Schoenborn made a positive impact minutes into his home debut.
The American caused Panther’s keeper Kevin Carr some trouble with a shot that went wide and bounced back towards the net, forcing Carr to be alert to make the save in the first minute.
The Stars then had another big chance as Colton Kroeker carried the puck past the Nottingham goal but Carr poked the danger away.
Dundee keeper Alex Leclerc made his first big save of the night as Dylan Malmquist had to be denied from close range as the Panthers passed their way through the Stars defence.
Nottingham’s Sam Here sent his shot flying into the top right corner after seven minutes to open the scoring.
Stars enjoyed spells of offensive play and would find the net inside the opening minute of the second period when Drydn Dow fired a shot into the top left corner from the middle of the slot.
The game was not level for long as Oliver Betteridge restored the Panrhers’lead in 24 minutes.
After a heavy period of Panthers pressure they were then awarded a powerplay as Stars defender Brett Stovin boarded his opponent and that man advantage allowed Brett Bulmer to convert a third goal for the visitors.
Dundee pushed very hard for the next goal to set up tense finish but Kevin Carr and his defence stood firm.
Stars finally beat Carr again after Carter picked out Anthony Beauregard, who flicked a backhanded shot into the left side of the net to make it 3-2 with just four minutes left on the clock.
Leclerc was pulled with a minute left and Pacha used his timeout with 54 seconds to go, there would be no further scoring despite Panthers’ Dylan Malmquist hitting the post of the empty net in the final seconds.
On the Saturday Beauregard netted Stars’ consolation in a 6-1 defeat in Nottingham Panthers.
His goal on the power play after 11 minutes levelled the scores at 1-1 after Adam Deutsch opened the scoring three minutes earlier.
But five unanswered goals – three of them in the second period – sealed the Tayside team’s fate.
Stars welcome rivals Fife Flyers to the Dundee Ice Arena on Boxing Day.
FIFE FLYERS 1 BELFAST GIANTS 3
Fife Flyers suffered their fourth defeat in six Elite League games last night when they were beaten 3-1 at home by Belfast Giants.
Former player Elgin Pearce opened the scoring after 28 minutes on the power play for the visitors.
Jordan Smotherman made it 2-0 two minutes into the third period and Bobby Farnham increased their advantage four minutes later on the power play.
Danick Gauthier pulled one back on the power play but the Scots failed to add to their total.
On Saturday Carlo Finucci scored two minutes into suddendeath overtime to hand Flyers a 3-2 league victory at fellow strugglers Manchester Storm.
Fife had led 2-0 after 19 minutes thanks to goals from Tim and brother Paul Crowder.
Storm clawed their way back into the game through Cody Thompson and Layne Ulmer levelled on a power play goal four seconds from time. James Livingston and Paul Crowder set up Finucci for the game-winner.
Glasgow Clan last night completed a pointless weekend with a 5-1 home defeat by league pacesetters Sheffield Steelers.