FIFE FLYERS 4 TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 6
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars claimed their third win from their last four matches as they travelled across the River Tay and defeated their arch rivals, Fife Flyers in the first league clash of the season between the old foes.
By Kris Smith
The Stars had only one player missing through injury as defenseman, Sean Allen was sidelined but they still iced a full team as Josh Brittain dropped back into defence and forward, Jake Elmer returned to the line-up.
Meanwhile, the Flyers gave new signing, Sean Giles his debut but had to scratch Teemu Pulkkinnen, Brady Porteau and Brodie Kay.
The home team got off to a flying start as Kyle Osterberg fired Fife into the lead on two minutes and he opened the scoring when he let rip on a shot through traffic that beat goalie, Kevin Carr on his right side.
Dundee would not be slow to reply however, as with Flyers captain, Jonas Emmerdahl in the box for a tripping foul, Spencer Naas jammed home a loose puck to tie the game in the seventh minute.
The Stars then survived a Flyers powerplay but would fall behind again on 12 minutes as they struggled to clear their own zone and paid the price for it, as Collin Shirley kept winning back possession for the Flyers and as he hung around the Dundee goal, he was rewarded with an easy tap in to restore the lead.
Marc LeFebvre’s men then had another opportunity to cash-in on the man advantage just less than a minute after going behind, but failed to punish their rivals again and would trail 2-1 going into the second period.
Although it would be the visitors turn to get off to a quick start as the Stars burst down the ice and tied the score at 2-2 just 80 seconds after the restart, with Anthony Rinaldi providing the finish to Brent Beaudoin’s pass.
Dundee then found their way in front just before the halfway mark as they forced Flyers defender, Aleksi Makela to put the puck in his own net after Naas’ attempted pass was deflected in by the Fife player’s stick and past Shane Owen, who had been sent the wrong way.
Tom Coolen’s men were left reeling and trying to find a way back into the tie but they kept working and punished Dundee for another error to equalise in the final minute of the middle period.
Despite losing their lead late, the Stars would find a way to restore it before the buzzer and it came from Fife’s new addition, Giles being left upset after a refereeing decision and he talked himself into a two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct charge.
It took Dundee only six seconds to score as they won the face-off and pulled the puck back to captain, Drydn Dow who fired high and straight past Owen.
Tensions would begin to boil over as a player from each team was called for roughing as they lined-up to restart the final seconds of the period, with Johnny Walker and Fife’s Anthon Eriksson being sent to the box.
In the third period, the Flyers were struggling to stay out the box and that would cost them another goal as Naas bagged his hat-trick with another finish from close range inside 50 minutes.
With Dundee leading 5-3, the Flyers did bag a powerplay goal of their own as Shirley turned Lucas Chiodo’s pass up into the top of Carr’s net on 56 minutes.
That put Dundee on the defensive for the final minutes and they would again be on the penalty kill as blueliner, Kyle Pouncy was called for slashing with only 85 seconds left on the clock.
Fife pulled their keeper, Owen to have a six-on-four advantage but could not find a way to get another equaliser and allowed Dow to net his second as he shot from his own net into the empty net!
The Stars returned to winning ways to make it three wins in their last four games and moved up to sixth in the Elite League table and their next outing will be on Sunday as they face Glasgow Clan at home tomorrow in Challenge Cup action.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #8 Spencer Naas
Fife: #91 Troy Lajeunesse
Goals
1st:
1-0 Kyle Osterberg (Troy Lajeunesse) 02:41
1-1 Spencer Naas (Ryan Valentini, Drydn Dow) 06:12 PPG
2-1 Collin Shirley (Aleksi Makela) 12:09
2nd:
2-2 Anthony Rinaldi (Brent Beaudoin, Jake Elmer) 21:20
2-3 Spencer Naas (Brendan Harms, Kyle Pouncy) 29:25
3-3 Troy Lajeunesse (Kyle Osterberg) 39:20
3-4 Drydn Dow (Spencer Naas, Brent Beaudoin) 39:47 PPG
3rd:
3-5 Spencer Naas (Brendan Harms, Brent Beaudoin) 49:22 PPG
4-5 Collin Shirley (Lucas Chiodo) 56:13 PPG
4-6 Drydn Dow (James Phelan) 59:58 SHG ENG
All images: Flyers Images.
