SHEFFIELD STEELERS 6 TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 1
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars saw their point streak halted by the league leading, Sheffield Steelers in a match where the current pacesetters showed why they are 14 points clear at the top of the table.
By Kris Smith
The Stars lost forward, Anthony Rinaldi from the line-up before the match and he joined defender, Chris McKay on the sidelines as he served the final game of his three match ban.
Mitchell Balmas opened the scoring on 13 minutes thanks to a huge slice of luck as his pass bounced off a defender and then off the inside of goalkeeper, Kevin Carr’s skate and into the Dundee net.
Then two minutes later, Daniel Ciampini doubled the lead with a neat finish into the top corner after skating on to a loose puck that popped out in front of the Dundee net, but in the 17th minute, Robert Dowd scored the best of the night.
The British forward was skating through on goal before he began to fall after being put under pressure from the Stars defender and Dowd still managed to get the shot off and past Carr, whilst falling.
In the second period, Ciampini netted another after he was left open on the back post and tapped home the pass from Zach Vinnell, inside 30 minutes and two minutes later, Marc-Olivier Vallerand added a powerplay goal.
The Steelers moved 5-0 in front as Vallerand’s powerful one-timer beat Carr when the play quickly moved from left to right.
Dundee would finally get on the board in the third period after Spencer Naas added his 20th league goal of the season with a quick release from in the slot that flew past Matt Greenfield, on 43 minutes.
Aaron Fox’s side then rounded out the scoring at 6-1 inside the final minute with a carbon copy of their first goal and another intended pass ended up bouncing into the net via the skate of Carr, this time Cole Shudra was the scorer.
The Stars next game sees them head to South Wales on Saturday for a clash with Cardiff Devils before taking on Nottingham Panthers at home on Sunday.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #8 Spencer Naas
Sheffield: #12 Daniel Ciampini
Goals
1st:
1-0 Mitchell Balmas (Marc-Olivier Vallerand, Colton Saucerman) 13:14
2-0 Daniel Ciampini (Colton Saucerman, Mark Simpson) 15:06
3-0 Robert Dowd (Cole Shudra, Niklas Nevalainen) 16:43
2nd:
4-0 Daniel Ciampini (Zach Vinnell, Patrick Watling) 29:40
5-0 Marc-Olivier Vallerand (Colton Saucerman, Mitchell Balmas) 32:22 PPG
3rd:
5-1 Spencer Naas (Ryan Valentini, Brendan Harms) 43:14
6-1 Cole Shudra (Daniel Ciampini, Scott Allen) 59:23
All images: Dean Wooley.
