By Kris Smith
On Sunday. the Stars will play their second match of a four-game home stand and they need to win all of the remaining three after going pointless last week across three matches.
Dundee played three games in five days last week with defeats to Belfast Giants and Manchester Storm on the road, before being beaten by Sheffield Steelers at home.
However, the week before they had claimed back-to-back wins over the Blaze and Glasgow Clan for a four-point weekend, taking a narrow 2-1 victory in Coventry.
Spencer Naas and Ryan Valentini netted for the Stars, whilst Danny Kristo had drawn the home side level in the third period and the Blaze even scored a last-minute equaliser, which would later be disallowed after a video review.
So far this season, Dundee have won twice in the West Midlands but are yet to beat Danny Stewart’s men on home ice and their last meeting in Scotland, saw Coventry take a 2-1 overtime victory in another close encounter.
Naas and Valentini have both accumulated five points against the Blaze this season, each netting two goals and assisting three times, whilst Ian McNulty has totalled seven points (1G, 6A) for the English outfit.
Looking ahead to his side’s only fixture of the weekend, Stars Head Coach, Marc LeFebvre said: “It is a major game and more than anything else we want to win it.
“We know what to expect as we have played them enough times this season, they are pretty good defensively and we have to find our way through that, get some chances on goal and take them when they come.”
He continued: “You have to put in a full 60 minutes every night, have everyone buying-in and that is all it comes down to.
“We just have to find a way to penetrate their defence and then a way past their goalie, but also play good defence ourselves, if we want to come out on top.”
Veteran forward, Josh Brittain has been involved in playoff pushes down the stretch throughout his career and he shared what it takes to get the job done.
He said: “These are the important times of the year and this where you have to make sure you are preparing a little extra, going the extra mile.
“We have made it through the tough travel bit and going through the tough part of the season, so now we have to look ahead and get everyone focused, buying-in and doing everything we can to make sure we are winning every night.
“Every time we have played them, we have seen they are a hard-working team and so it is not going to be an easy game.
“We have to manage our mistakes, having a good start will be key and trying to find the back of the net.
“If everyone can buy-in defensively then that will lead to more offensive chances and help to make sure we get the job done.”
Face-off for Sunday’s home game against Coventry is at 5pm and you can buy your tickets HERE!
All images: Derek Black.
