MANCHESTER STORM 6 TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 3
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars were beaten 6-3 in Manchester on Friday night as they fell behind to the Storm and failed to recover in what was a tough night of Elite League action for Marc LeFebvre’s men.
By Kris Smith
The Stars arrived in Altrincham with Xavier Pouliot back in the line-up for their first visit of the season to the Storm Shelter but would lose forward, Alex Tonge as he returned to the sideline again.
Manchester were quick off the mark and after only 33 seconds of play, Joe Morrow finished off a swift attacking play with a rising shot past Richard Sabol in the Dundee goal but their lead would be short lived.
In the sixth minute and just as a penalty against the Storm was expiring, Stars defenseman Ben O’Connor drew the Taysiders level with a wrist shot over Evan Weninger’s left shoulder, as he found time and space high in the Manchester zone.
Although, Mike Flanagan’s side would re-take the lead later in the period as they cashed in on the powerplay, with Dundee’s Kyle Pouncy in the penalty box for a tripping foul and on the man advantage, Ryan Hughes’ cross-ice pass set up Jake Durflinger to smack home the Storm’s second of the night.
There would be a delay to the second period starting as the ice resurfacer had a technical issue causing a delay to the ice cut between periods but once the game restarted, Manchester were again quick to find the back of the net as Alexis D’Aoust turned home a third to increase the home team’s advantage to two goals.
Dundee were battling back for a second goal but could not beat Weninger again before Manchester would make it 4-1 with a shorthanded goal inside the final two minutes of the middle session as Grant Hebert broke forward and lifted the puck past Sabol, with Storm forward Ryan Hughes in the box for hooking.
In the third period, Marc LeFebvre’s men needed to find a big offensive push to claw their way back into the game but would again concede the first after the restart as Durflinger fired home his second of the match on 44 minutes but seven minutes later, Keanu Yamamoto would be on hand at the back post to send the puck past Weninger and to make it a 5-2 game.
The Storm would then resume their solid defensive approach before another penalty late in the game cost them another goal as Joe Morrow’s minor penalty for interference allowed Brett Gravelle to convert on the man advantage with only 63 seconds left on the clock.
Dundee then pulled Sabol from the goal in exchange for an extra attacker but that only allowed Manchester to seal the victory with an empty netter when Craig Martin slotted home into the gaping goal to end the game at 6-3.
The Stars have no time to rest up as they head straight back home and prepare for Saturday’s home game against Guildford Flames, as they look to avoid a pointless weekend.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #20 Keanu Yamamoto
Manchester: #16 Jake Durflinger
Goals
1st:
1-0 Joe Morrow (Grant Hebert, Craig Martin) 00:33
1-1 Ben O’Connor (Brett Gravelle, Keanu Yamamoto) 05:59
2-1 Jake Durflinger (Ryan Hughes, Noah Carroll) 16:33 PPG
2nd:
3-1 Alexis D’Aoust (Grant Hebert, Stephen Johnson) 22:11 PPG
4-1 Grant Hebert (Alexis D’Aoust, Chase Harrison) 38:48 SHG
3rd:
5-1 Jake Durflinger (Ryan Hughes, Grant Hebert) 44:05
5-2 Keanu Yamamoto (Philippe Sanche, Brett Gravelle) 51:04
5-3 Brett Gravelle (Cole MacDonald, Keanu Yamamoto) 58:57 PPG
6-3 Craig Martin (Alexis D’Aoust, Grant Hebert) 59:39 ENG
All images: Storm Images.
