By Kris Smith
The Stars have won their last two matches and claimed a massive 5-2 win over Elite League leaders, Sheffield Steelers last Saturday, so they come into their only game of this week on a massive high, as they face off at Dundee Ice Arena against the Fife Flyers on Saturday night, face off 7.00pm. Buy your tickets HERE!
After defeating his old club last weekend, Marqaurdt believes that the big win in Sheffield has given the team some momentum heading into Saturday’s Tayside Derby.
He said: “I am sure it will, they are the top club in the league, they have a very high-powered offence, are a really good team and we were able to play our style of hockey and win against them.
“We played with great discipline, both penalty-wise and within our system, so that was a big key to getting a huge victory in a very tough building.”
The Stars have now won 10 of their last 16 matches and that has created a real positive atmosphere in the locker room, according to the Canadian winger.
Matt added: “We all feel great right now because we have been playing some really good hockey lately.
“I think if we look back to find some sort of bookmark where we hit our stride then it would be the festive holidays.
“Since then, we have been playing consistent defence-first and team-first hockey and even though it is the final push, we will still be taking things one game at a time.”
Dundee have both a winning record against the Flyers this season and at home in 2020, as they have won four of the seven Derbies with Fife and four out of five games at the DIA in the new year.
Therefore, Marquardt hopes the team can continue the consistent performances they have produced in 2020 so far as the team gears up for the final 11 games of the regular season.
He continued: “I think when we lost in the first half of the year or when we lose in general, we learn a lot from it and see the way we need to play to be successful and the things we need to avoid, to avoid losing.
“So, we just have to keep playing the same way we have been, Pacha has been preaching just good defensive, team-first hockey and that is what has made us successful since the holidays and we just have to keep that consistent play going.”
This Saturday’s rivalry game with Fife is also the first #OperationSellOut of the season and Matt and the rest of the team would love to see the DIA packed to the rafters and everyone cheering on the boys.
“It would be an awesome sight, this is a great building to play in, especially when it is rocking”, he said.
“We really feed off that and it creates a certain electricity in the building and gives us an extra boost.
“It also adds more to the already high adrenaline, which is always the case against Fife because they are our biggest rivals.
“So, it would be great to see this place packed and loud, it is going to be a big game and we are all excited for it!”
Saturday’s massive Tayside Derby will face-off at 7pm and you can get your tickets for #OperationSellOut HERE before they are gone!
