TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 3 FIFE FLYERS 2 SO
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars took it right down to the wire but claimed a further two points in the Challenge Cup on Sunday night, as they added a shootout victory over their biggest rivals, Fife Flyers.
By Kris Smith
The Stars got off to a good start in the opening minutes as they applied a lot of pressure on Shane Owen in the Fife net and quickly found the first breakthrough as after six minutes, they cashed in for a powerplay goal.
With Flyers forward, Nikolai Shulga in the penalty box for tripping, Dundee captain Drydn Dow fired a long-range effort that struck the crossbar but the rebound would fall perfectly for Domenic Alberga to lift home and open the scoring.
The home team had a number of chances throughout the first 20 minutes to build on their lead but they failed to make them count and after serving a penalty, Austin Farley would jump back on the ice and tie the game up on 16 minutes.
The Flyers worked the puck around the Dundee end before Farley played a quick one-two with Patrick Kyte and had a wide-open net to fire into at the back post, as Fife’s movement dragged all the Stars defenders to one side.
The two teams were still tied heading into the second and the Stars pushed hard for another lead but they would be met by save after save from Owen when they did get their shots past the blocking bodies of the Flyers.
Eventually in the 32nd minute, the Tayside team would go back in front after another spell off pressure in the offensive zone that culminated with Kameron Kielly jamming the puck past Owen for his second goal of his debut weekend.
At the other end, Jarrett Fiske was still kept busy by the Fife counter-attacks but he was able to protect the home side’s narrow lead and Marc LeFebvre’s men were unable to extend it further before the second intermission.
The third period saw Tom Coolen’s side equalise once again as Farley doubled up with his second of the night after firing low past Fiske from the slot.
However, Dundee continually failed to make their chances count as they hammered shot after shot on the Fife goal to no avail and every rebound, they tried to finish off would slip just wide or be met by the pads of Owen.
A late powerplay for the home side produced plenty of chances for the Stars to regain the lead but they just could not get the puck in the back of the net and after a potential Fife goal was ruled out for being batted in by a high stick from Lucas Chiodo, regulation time ended with the game tied at 2-2.
In overtime, the Stars were again on top but could not find the winner and so a shootout was required but neither of each team’s first three shooters could find the back of the net.
In the fourth round of penalties, Jake Elmer and Fife’s Johnny Curran both scored to put the pressure on but Dundee’s Keanu Yamamoto would thrive under the pressure and bury his shot into the top corner, before Maxim Musorov fanned on his effort and that handed the extra point to Dundee.
The Stars take three points from four this weekend and sit second in Group B, just one point behind Belfast Giants and they will face them in Dundee next Sunday, but first is their opening league fixture against Manchester Storm at home on Saturday.
Dundee Scratches: #1 Jaglar (Two-Way), #45 Kelly (Injured) & #77 Saunders (Two-Way).
Fife Scratches: #4 Page, #7 Heidt, #61 Spence & #62 Latal.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #33 Jarrett Fiske
Fife: #91 Austin Farley
Goals
1st:
1-0 Domenic Alberga (Drydn Dow, Zach Tsekos) 06:36 PPG
1-1 Austin Farley (Patrick Kyte, Drake Pilon) 16:49
2nd:
2-1 Kameron Kielly (Ben O’Connor, Keanu Yamamoto) 32:29
3rd:
2-2 Austin Farley (Phelix Martineau, Drake Pilon) 45:39
OT:
SO:
3-2 Keanu Yamamoto (Unassisted) 65:00 PS
Shootout:
Round 1
Dundee: Domenic Alberga – Saved
Fife: Michael Cichy – Saved
Round 2
Dundee: Zach Tsekos – Saved
Fife: Nikolai Shulga – Saved
Round 3
Dundee: Drydn Dow – Saved
Fife: Drake Pilon – Saved
Round 4
Dundee: Jake Elmer – Goal
Fife: Johnny Curran – Goal
Round 5
Dundee: Keanu Yamamoto – Goal
Fife: Maxim Musorov – Miss
All images: Derek Black.
