By Kris Smith
After last night’s 3-2 overtime victory for the Stars in Coventry, we welcome the Blaze to the DIA, attempting to bag the first back-to-back wins of the season.
Riley Stadel was the hat-trick hero as Dundee came back from a goal down, twice, to force the game into overtime and Stadel bagged the winner, as he scored three impressive goals for his first professional career hat-trick.
Both Danny Stewart and Omar Pacha will be demanding that their teams are more clinical in this second match as both teams missed key chances throughout the game.
Ross Venus and Garrett Ladd were on the scoresheet for the Blaze last night but the Stars still have to wary of dangermen like Marc-Olivier Vallerand and Ryan Dingle.
Gabriel Lévesque assisted on two of Dundee’s goals last night with Marc-Olivier Mimar, Malcolm Gould, Brian Hart and Anthony Mastrodicasa getting one helper each.
Travis Fullerton denied 35 of the 37 shots he faced from a strong Coventry offence who outshot the Stars 13-3 in the opening period. Kevin Nastiuk faced 36 shots, making 33 saves but Riley Stadel proved too good for the Canadian stopper.
Dundee will be without Cam McGiffin, Chris Lawrence and Johan Andersson who all miss out through injury, although Kris Inglis is expected to dress for this game. Danick Paquette’s suspension expires after this weekend as he is still out the Blaze roster alongside, Oliver Stone, Jordan Stokes, Renny Marr and Edgars Bebris who all did not ice for Coventry last night.
Omar Pacha gave his view of the Stars 3-2 overtime win in Coventry, he said: “It was a hard nose win tonight, our compete level and work ethic was there from start to finish.
“At times, during the game we struggle to get some flow to the game and execute in different situations but we progressively got better throughout the game.
“Riley was immense tonight and tomorrow is a big game and a chance to get a four point weekend, so it will be important to get back to winning ways in front of our fans.”
Dundee’s hat-trick hero said that “we have to forget what happened last night” as the team prepare for home game against the Blaze this evening.
Stadel added: “Last night was a huge game as a team for us and with having a couple bodies back in the line-up plus the addition of fox and Pacha we really came together and got the job done.
“But the weekend isn’t over, Coventry obviously isn’t pleased with the result so they will be ready to play tonight and we have to forget about what happened last night and just focus on the game tonight.”
Face-off is at 6:30pm and tickets are still available at the DIA box office and online.
