TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 5 GUILDFORD FLAMES 4
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars claimed their third victory in a row as they battled with Guildford Flames all night but emerged from the fire with a crucial home win and two points to start their weekend off.
By Kris Smith
The Stars had defenseman, Sean Allen back in the line-up for tonight but fellow blueliner, Kris Inglis was still out with injury meaning forward, Josh Brittain would stay on defence.
Both teams had some good chances in the opening minutes and each would have their spells of pressure throughout the opening period with Dundee putting more shots on net in the first 20 minutes.
The deadlock would be broken on 10 minutes as Matt Alvaro finished off the rebound from Peter Crinella’s saved effort but the Flames would have more opportunities to increase their lead before the first break as the Stars hit some penalty trouble.
Two fouls in the final two minutes put the home side down to three skaters and they did make it into the intermission but Guildford were quick to capitalise on their remaining time on the man advantage, as Ryan Tait doubled the lead.
Only 64 seconds after the restart, Tait found a way past Kevin Carr in the Stars net to make it 2-0 but the Tayside team responded well and quickly made it an even game.
Brittain would put Dundee on the board less than two minutes later as he ripped a shot from just inside the blueline that flew past Taz Burman in the Flames net and seconds later, Marc LeFebvre’s men would go onto the powerplay as Logan Fredericks was punished for hooking.
Canadian forward, Ryan Valentini then stepped forward and netted the equaliser as he beat Burman low from the right side of the net, inside 24 minutes and that sparked the DIA into life.
However, Paul Dixon’s men quickly silenced the crowd as Lewis Hook lifted home another rebound after Carr had made the initial save and that made it 3-2 to Guildford in the 27th minute.
Although, the crowd were soon raised back to their feet as Dundee hit straight back with another equaliser and again on the powerplay, after Guildford’s Ryan Hughes was boxed for a slash.
Stars captain, Drydn Dow would add his name to the scoresheet as he stepped in and blasted an effort into the back of the net from the left flank after some excellent play from Valentini in the build-up.
Dundee then took their first lead of the night on 35 minutes as Jake Elmer, James Phelan and Jonathan McBean all worked hard in the Guildford end to create a chance and McBean would finish off the play after Phelan took the puck in towards net.
The Stars took their narrow lead into the third period and eventually found some breathing room as Valentini danced his way through the English side’s defence and skated the puck around Burman, before tucking home his second of the night after 49 minutes.
Guilford then threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Stars and finally found a way past Carr again as Austin Glover converted with 54 seconds left on the clock.
The Flames had been playing with an extra attacker as they swapped their keeper out for an additional forward but Dundee would defend their lead to claim their fifth win in their last six matches.
LeFebvre now takes his side to Surrey on Sunday in search of another victory over the Flames and another four-point weekend.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #9 Ryan Valentini
Guildford: #72 Peter Crinella
Goals
1st:
0-1 Matt Alvaro (Peter Crinella) 10:09
2nd:
0-2 Ryan Tait (Brett Ferguson, Peter Crinella) 21:04 PPG
1-2 Josh Brittain (Carter Johnson, Tommy Parrottino) 22:47
2-2 Ryan Valentini (Anthiony Rinaldi, Kyle Pouncy) 24:56 PPG
2-3 Lewis Hook (Ryan Tait, Ben O’Connor) 26:28 PPG
3-3 Drydn Dow (Ryan Valentini, Brent Beaudoin) 28:37 PPG
4-3 Jonathan McBean (James Phelan, Jake Elmer) 35:43
3rd:
5-3 Ryan Valentini (Brendan Harms, Josh Brittain) 49:25
5-4 Austin Glover (Ben O’Connor, Bradley Lalonde) 59:06 EA
All images: Derek Black.
