GUILDFORD FLAMES 4 TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 3 SO
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars claimed another point from the Spectrum Arena to take five from a possible six this season after they made a third period comeback to force a penalty shootout.
By Kris Smith
The Stars were icing without defensemen, Kyle Pouncy and Elijah Vilio for their final road trip of the league campaign to Guildford but did gain Canadian goalie, Kevin Carr back into the starting line-up.
Dundee got straight on the attack from the opening face-off and would test Taz Burman in the Flames net early as Josh Brittain, Ryan Valentini and James Phelan all had chances.
In what would a scoreless first period, the Stars had to kill off a lone powerplay and did so with ease before in the second session, the Flames came out swinging.
After only 34 seconds of play, the Dundee defence could not clear a loose puck and Turner Ripplinger skated onto before firing past Carr to open the scoring.
Then six minutes later, the Elite League’s top point scorer, Valentini would equalise for the Taysiders as he capitalised on a miss-controlled pass and fired high over the shoulder of Burman as he cut across the right face-off circle.
Paul Dixon’s men would then respond when they had a two-man advantage on the powerplay after Brittain and Carter Johnson were both boxed for minor fouls and that allowed Brett Ferguson in on goal and from the slot, he picked his way past Carr on 30 minutes.
In the 37th minute, Bradley Lalonde then extended the Surrey-side’s lead to 3-1 as he hit a powerful but low slapshot from just inside the blueline and that left Marc LeFebvre’s Stars two-goals down heading into the second break.
Although, Dundee came out fired up and immediately began pressing for the crucial next goal, which would be score just five minutes into the third period as counter-attacked with speed and Tommy Parrottino fired low past Burman to make it 3-2.
Less than two minutes, Valentini would then bag his brace to draw the Stars level as he smacked the puck into the top corner at Burman’s near side after shooting from a narrow angle and that made it all to play for in the final minutes.
However, no winner would be found in regulation and so overtime was required but both netminders performed well to keep their sides in and after five minutes of three-on-three hockey, still no victor emerged.
After the buzzer sounded in overtime to signal penalty shots, there was a coming together between Johnson and Guildford’s Matt Alvaro just moments after Alvaro had collided with the Stars keeper which also sparked a few handbags.
A still aggrieved Johnson threw his shoulder towards Alvaro before Flames defenseman, Kyle Locke became the third-man involved and blindsided Johnson with a hit and Brent Beaudoin would then step in to back-up Johnson, resulting in all four-players being tossed from the game before penalty shots.
In the shootout, Brett Ferguson would score the only goal as Burman made stops on all five shots from Valentini, Spencer Naas, Drydn Dow, Parrottino and Brendan Harms, meaning the Flames took the extra point and their first home win over the Stars this season.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #9 Ryan Valentini
Guildford: #18 Brett Ferguson
Goals
1st:
2nd:
1-0 Turner Ripplinger (Brett Ferguson, Lewis Hook) 20:34
1-1 Ryan Valentini (Unassisted) 26:38
2-1 Brett Ferguson (Ryan Tait, Peter Crinella) 30:54 PPG
3-1 Bradley Lalonde (Ryan Tait, Jordan Klimek) 36:25
3rd:
3-2 Tommy Parrottino (James Phelan, Anthony Rinaldi) 45:14
3-3 Ryan Valentini (Spencer Naas, Brendan Harms) 47:02
OT:
SO:
4-3 Brett Ferguson (Unassisted) 65:00 PS
Shootout
Round 1
Dundee: Ryan Valentini – Miss
Guildford: Brett Ferguson – Goal
Round 2
Dundee: Spencer Naas – Saved
Guildford: Peter Crinella – Saved
Round 3
Dundee: Drydn Dow – Saved
Guildford: Ryan Tait – Miss
Round 4
Dundee: Tommy Parrottino – Saved
Guildford: Steven McParland – Saved
Round 5
Dundee: Brendan Harms – Saved
All images: John Uwins.
