By Kris Smith
The Stars are in the West Midlands for only the second time this season and out to secure their first victory in the SkyDome Arena.
On their last visit to Coventry, Dundee were beaten 5-1 and after a scoreless first period, the Blaze stormed into a 3-0 lead with goals from Ryan Penny, Dane Gibson and Janne Laakkonen.
Charlie Combs then got the Stars on the board at the halfway mark, but Danny Stewart’s men pushed on score twice in the third period, as Penny lit the lamp again and Luke Ferrara got in on the action.
However, two days ago when the Blaze were visiting the DIA, two quickfire goals from Spencer Dorowicz and Combs gave Dundee an early cushion and they would extend their lead in the second period through Michael Poirier.
Sebastian Bengtsson then stuck a fourth past CJ Motte inside the opening two minutes of the third period, before Ferrara netted a late consolation goal for the Blaze.
Although, the Stars were defeated 7-3 on the road by Guildford Flames last night, despite leading 3-1 after 10 minutes.
Alexandre Ranger, Combs and Bengtsson all scored early on to help the Stars get off to a great lead, but the Surrey side soon drew level before storming off into a big lead, as Ian Watters, Ian McNulty (3), Turner Ripplinger, Levi Cable and Jordan Cownie all got their names on the scoresheet.
Meanwhile, last night in Glasgow, Coventry finally ended their points drought as they took a 4-2 win over the Clan and two points out of the Braehead Arena.
Evan Bloodoff had the English club ahead early, before John Curran doubled lead and then Rodney Southam pulled one back for the Clan, but in the second period, Ferrara restored Coventry’s two-goal advantage.
Nolan LaPorte and the Blaze’s Mitch Cook both scored inside the final minutes of the game to make it 4-2, but the Clan were well beaten on home ice.
That now leaves each team in the same place they started in the league table this weekend, with Dundee and Glasgow still tied on points, and holding on to fifth and sixth, whereas the Blaze sit in eighth and three points off the Scottish duo.
Both Adam Morrison and Brython Preece will be ready for action in the Stars net tonight, but Drydn Dow, Toms Rutkis, Craig Garrigan and Kyle Haas are all still unavailable for selection.
Stars forward, Alexandre Ranger then discussed what it will take to get another win over the Blaze tonight and what has been the keys to their recent success over Coventry.
He said: “We know how they play, we have seen them a couple times now and we know what to do to make sure we get the ‘W’.
“I do no think tonight’s game will be that much different, it will definitely be another intense game with a lot of physicality and it will be a hard fought contest.
“They have a really good goalie, so the key is just two get traffic in front of him and shoot the puck as much as possible, then be physical and work hard like we have done in the past two games.”
Face-off time for tonight’s game in Coventry is at 5:30pm.
Picture by: Scott Wiggins.
