PLAYOFF QF 1ST LEG: CARDIFF DEVILS 4 TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 2

The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars were beaten 4-2 in Cardiff after the first-leg of the Playoff Quarter-Finals but return to Tayside with a chance to overturn the two-goal deficit against the Devils, on Sunday.

By Kris Smith

The Stars made no changes to their line-up from the last regular season game as goaltender, Kevin Carr and forward, Craig Garrigan remained out through injury and Lucas Brine kept his place between the pipes.

Dundee got off to a good start as they were able to get a few shots on Ben Bowns in the Cardiff net right from the start and they came so close to scoring as one shot hit the post before rebounding through the legs of Carter Johnson as he attempted to bat it in.

The home team would then have two chances on the powerplay after Dundee defenders, Chris McKay and Drydn Dow both picked up two-minute minor penalties for tripping but the Devils would fail to cash-in on their man advantages.

Although, soon after the Stars returned to full strength, Samuel Duggan slotted home a rebound after Brine made the initial save to put the Welsh side in front, on 17 minutes and they carried that lead into the first break.

Marc LeFebvre’s men would answer back swiftly in the second period as Ryan Valentini drew Dundee level after only 54 seconds of play, with the Canadian slinging home Brendan Harms’ pass from behind the net.

However, Cardiff would be able to regain the lead just 33 seconds later as Tyler Busch followed up on his own blocked pass and beat an already down Brine after the British keeper had expected a shot from the attempted pass.

The Stars would then have their first powerplay of the game but it would be after it ended before they scored again, to tie the game once more and this time it was Jake Elmer, who deked his way past Bowns, on 26 minutes.

The two teams continued to be locked in a battle for the lead and the next goal would come inside 34 minutes as Bode Wilde’s slapshot from just inside the blueline beat everyone to convert on a powerplay and put the Devils 3-2 ahead.

Pete Russell’s side were still leading heading into the third period and they quickly doubled their advantage with Busch adding his second in the 42nd minute.

After poking the puck towards goal from a Brandon Alderson pass, the puck would take a fortunate bounce off of Xavier Pouliot’s skate to send it past Brine and help the Devils into a 4-2 lead.

The Stars fought hard to pull back another goal but after a physical and end-to-end 60 minutes, Cardiff still held a two-goal advantage that they would have to defend in Dundee on Sunday.