GUILDFORD FLAMES 4 TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 5 SO
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars came back from 4-1 down to win 5-4 on penalties against Guildford Flames as they snapped a six-game losing streak and picked up their first points in the league campaign.
By Kris Smith
The Stars found themselves down 1-0 after less than four minutes of play as Charlie Dodero’s shot beat keeper, Richard Sabol between the legs and they then faced an uphill for the rest of the first period.
Neither side could capitalise on powerplay chances in the opening 20 minutes but Mike Crocock would then be the second defenseman to find the back of the net as he doubled the home team’s lead on 14 minutes with a shot back across goal that found the top right corner.
Dundee would respond to cut the lead to 2-1 in the final minute of the first session as Drydn Dow’s stretch pass played Kameron Kielly in behind and he dispatched the puck past Eamon McAdam.
In the second period, the Flames would restore their two-goal cushion inside 29 minutes through Charlie Curti, as he hit the twine on his debut but a few moments later, the game would have to be temporarily paused as Guildford’s Jake Coughler needed medical attention and then stretchered off the ice following a collision with the boards.
When the match resumed, Paul Dixon’s men then extended their advantage to 4-1 through Matt Alvaro as he fired the puck past Sabol on 30 minutes and that would be the end of the Slovakian’s night as Marc LeFebvre substituted Jarrett Fiske into the net.
The Tayside team responded to the change by pulling back another goal as Domenic Alberga shot low through McAdam in the 36th minute and that sent the two teams into the final period at 4-2.
Dundee would then push hard in the final 20 minutes for more goals and found a third inside 46 minutes as Zach Tsekos caught Kyle Pouncy’s pass to the back door and slung it home into an empty net.
The Stars then ramped up the pressure and with some good goaltending from Fiske, they were able to keep the pressure on right until the dying minutes where they went on the powerplay as Guildford’s Marcus Tesink was penalised for a tripping foul.
Alex Tonge would then net the long sought after equaliser as he cut across the face of the Flames net and backhanded the puck past McAdam with 87 seconds left in the match.
The visitors then almost had a chance to win the game with another powerplay as a penalty was called against Guildford’s Brett Ferguson for a high hit on Alberga but after calling a major penalty on the play, referees Andrew Jarvie and Chris Wells reviewed the call and decided there would be no penalty.
Regulation time ended and with both teams still tied at 4-4, overtime was required but the extra five minutes would mostly be dominated by the Flames as they had a powerplay after Jake Elmer was boxed for tripping.
Guildford failed to convert with their four-on-three advantage, mainly due to some key saves by Fiske and the Stars defence clearing any loose rebounds but the Surrey club missed an open net and their chance to win the match, meaning a shootout was required.
Elmer would open the first round with a goal as he backhanded the puck into the top right corner of McAdams net before Fiske denied Lewis Hook and in the second round both Ben O’Connor and Guildford’s Daniel Tedesco would fail to convert.
In the third round of shots, Keanu Yamamoto gave Dundee a two-goal advantage after slipping the puck between the legs of McAdam, whilst Fiske snatched Jack Jacome’s shot up with his glove and in the fourth round, Alberga slotted past McAdam at his blocker side to seal the victory for Dundee.
The Stars now stay overnight and head for Cardiff Devils on Sunday as they look to build off their first league victory and take advantage of the Welsh side who are coming off of a 3-2 defeat away to Nottingham Panthers on Saturday night.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #6 Drydn Dow
Guildford: #16 Jack Jacome
Goals
1st:
1-0 Charlie Dodero (Mike Crocock, Joshua Waller) 03:51
2-0 Mike Crocock (Daniel Tedesco, Brett Ferguson) 14:48
2-1 Kameron Kielly (Drydn Dow, Jonathan McBean) 19:23
2nd:
3-1 Charlie Curti (Sean Norris, Samuel Talbot) 28:08
4-1 Matt Alvaro (Charlie Dodero, Ethan Strang) 30:23
4-2 Domenic Alberga (Unassisted) 35:30
3rd:
4-3 Zach Tsekos (Jake Elmer, Kyle Pouncy) 45:52
4-4 Alex Tonge (Kameron Kielly, Brett Gravelle) 58:33 PPG
OT:
SO:
4-5 Jake Elmer (Unassisted) 65:00 PS
Shootout
Round 1
Dundee: Jake Elmer – Goal
Guildford: Lewis Hook – Save
Round 2
Dundee: Ben O’Connor – Save
Guildford: Daniel Tedesco – Save
Round 3
Dundee: Keanu Yamamoto – Goal
Guildford: Jack Jacome – Save
Round 4
Dundee: Domenic Alberga – Goal
All images: John Uwins.
