By Kris Smith
On Saturday the Kitmart Dundee Stars head south in search of their first win on the road against Milton Keynes this season.
First up for the Tayside team is a trip to Buckinghamshire as they look to take two points on the road against Milton Keynes Lightning on Saturday (f/o 7pm).
They have only won two of the five meetings between the sides this season but Milton Keynes are rooted to the foot of the Elite League table with just 26 points from 44 games, 17 behind the next team and 18 behind Stars.
Dundee have again been boosted by another player returning from injury, last weekend seen captain, Johan Andersson return to the ice after three games out with a head injury. Now, winger Matt Bissonnette is expected to be in the line-up for the trip to Milton Keynes.
The former Manchester Storm and Belfast Giants winger has suffered three different injuries, all in this campaign.
Both teams are currently on losing runs as Stars lost their last two matches but the Lightning have not won any of their last 10 games. Despite having a full squad available, last weekend they lost both of their fixtures.
Last Saturday, Milton Keynes lost 2-1 in Nottingham. Tim Wallace did manage to get a puck past the Panthers keeper to tie the game at 1-1 before eventually going on to concede again.
On the Sunday, they went down at home to Glasgow Clan. Radek Meidl and David Norris netted the goals for Milton Keynes but they could not match the four goals from Glasgow.
In their only game of last weekend, Stars were beaten 5-4 by the Guildford Flames. Despite giving away a five-goal lead inside half an hour, Dundee brought it back to a one-goal game after a quick burst of goals in the third period.
Matt Marquardt, Fabrizio Ricci and Brian Hart (2) provided the goals for the Taysiders.
Stars forward, Charles Corcoran insists the team will be ready for the challenge against the Lightning.
He said: “We have had very close and tough games with MK all year.
“Most of the games have either ended in overtime or end up being one goal games.
“They play a very fast and physical style and have great goaltending.
“We know how important these points are for us as a club and will be ready for the challenge. ‘
“This is a team that has given us close games in the past and we expect nothing different.
“All week we have been preaching getting to the dirty areas and sticking with pucks and we will be well prepared for the test.”
Over the last seven games, Corcoran and his linemates have produced 28 points.
“I think our line over the past four games has had good jump and has made a lot of plays.
“Each one of us brings a bit of a different aspect and I think we feed off each other really well.
“Both Hartsy (Brian Hart) and Mags (Matt Marquardt) make it incredibly easy on me to play my game and hopefully we can keep it going,” added Corcoran.
Tonight’s game at Planet Ice Milton Keynes faces-off at 7pm.
