By Kris Smith
The Stars were able to ice a full line-up with only the injured Jake Elmer missing out as a scratch from the roster and the Blaze arrived in Dundee with seven defenders and only 10 forwards, as they played one man down.
The match got off to a fast-paced start with both teams looking to get the puck in behind early and force some defensive erros but both Dundee’s Kevin Carr and Taran Kozun in the Blaze goal were in fine form from minute one.
Penalties would soon start to be called and the first of the evening would go against the Tayside team as forward, Johnny Walker was punished for a cross-check.
Despite a brave effort from the Stars on the penalty kill and where they put bodies on the line, in the final seconds Ian McNulty’s saved shot would rebound out for Kobe Roth to tap home and give the English side the lead.
Marc LeFebvre’s men would come close to an equaliser but were unlucky to not find a way past Kozun before the end of the first period,
In the second session, the Blaze were quickly handed an opportunity to double their advantage as Mitch Cook was fouled as he went through on goal and that earned the visitors a penalty shot, just 30 seconds after the restart.
Coventry’s Danny Kristo would step out to take the penalty shot but would see his effort bounce off the leg pads of Carr and Dundee remained just one goal behind.
However, Kristo would not pass up his next opportunity as he snuck down the right flank and in towards the back post, where he would turn McNulty’s pass up into the top corner of Carr’s goal, making it 2-0 on 23 minutes.
As the Stars powerplay faltered, the West Midlands club continued to capitalise on rebounds as Alessio Luciani bagged his second goal of the weekend when he lifted the puck over the Dundee keeper, who had sprawled out to make three saves before it became 3-0 to the Blaze after 32 minutes.
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All images: Derek Black.
