COVENTRY BLAZE 2 TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 4

The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars responded with a crucial road victory against Coventry Blaze last night to take two vital points for their playoff push, following a disappointing home defeat on Saturday.

By Kris Smith

The Stars would take the lead down in Coventry after 12 minutes when forward, Alex Robert backhanded a shot past Mat Robson in the Blaze goal, but the spotlight would not be shone on the goalscorer.

Dundee defenseman, Ben O’Connor played the puck into the path of Robert and that would be his 400^th Elite League assist, which made him the all-time leading defenseman for assists in the EIHL.

Just as the Stars came close to adding a second, the home team hit back with a quick counter attack to tie the game on 17 minutes as Michael Regush turned home a cross-goal pass.

In the second period, Marc LeFebvre’s powerplay unit would strike twice as they first capitalised on a five-minute man advantage when Coventry’s Grayson Constable was given a major penalty for boarding Dundee’s Philippe Sanche.

Zach Tsekos received the puck high on the left side before moving in on goal and firing past Robson on 27 minutes and with the Blaze on another penalty kill in the 33^rd minute, Ben O’Connor would add a goal for himself on a historic night for the English blueliner.

The Team GB defenseman would hit a powerful slapshot straight through everyone and past the Coventry keeper to make it 3-1 for the Stars but their lead was nearly cut short in the final minute of the middle session as the West Midlands club thought they scored at the other end.

Jarrett Fiske had made one stop already before Regush lifted a shot over the Dundee goalie and seemingly into the net but after a video review of the play, the referees stuck with their on-ice decision of no goal and the Taysiders kept their two-goal advantage heading to the third period.

Tsekos would give the Stars some breathing room on 47 minutes as he broke through on goal and after his first shot was saved, he lifted his own rebound past Robson to make it a brace for himself on the night.

Dundee were cruising but in the final 10 minutes of the game, some penalties would allow the Blaze to put some pressure on their opponents and Chase Gresock would convert on a powerplay to make it 4-2, with eight minutes left to play.

The Stars held on and came close to adding a fifth goal when the Blaze emptied their net for an extra attacker but the goal post would keep their best effort out, now they must prepare for next weekend’s English doubler header as they make their final trip of the regular season to Nottingham Panthers, before welcoming Sheffield Steelers to Tayside on Sunday.