TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 0 BELFAST GIANTS 5
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars had a difficult night on home ice as they were beaten by Belfast Giants in Challenge Cup and missed their chance to top Group B.
By Kris Smith
The Stars did not get the start they needed and found themselves 3-0 down after the opening period, despite a few attempts on the Belfast goal but accurate finishing from the Giants was punishing the home team for some sloppy play and weak defending.
Kyle Osterberg opened the scoring on five minutes as he lifted a rebound past Jarrett Fiske, who had already turned away the first two attempts from Belfast and 10 minutes later, with the Stars on a penalty kill as Domenic Alberga served two minutes for hooking, Scott Conway doubled the lead.
The Giants forward had time and space to pick out the top corner and two minutes after the restart, J.J. Piccinich also put the puck in the top corner of the Stars net to make it 3-0 heading into the second period.
Marc LeFebvre’s men were struggling to put the Northern Irish club under any pressure and on 32 minutes, Conway would add his second of the evening as he capitalised on a loose puck in front of the Stars goal.
After two periods, Belfast were outshooting Dundee 32-12 and in the third period, the Taysiders would be able to get forward as Adam Keefe’s men entered cruise control but Jackson Whistle was not prepared to sacrifice his clean sheet.
Jordan Kawaguchi then rounded off the scoring at 5-0 with a second powerplay goal of the game as his slapshot hit the crossbar before bouncing into the net via the back of Fiske.
The buzzer brought an end to a disappointing weekend for the Stars but they have to pick themselves up and regroup ahead of a pair of Scottish derbies next weekend.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #33 Jarrett Fiske
Belfast: #12 J.J. Piccinich
Goals
1st:
0-1 Kyle Osterberg (Mike Lee) 05:07
0-2 Scott Conway (Gabe Bast, J.J. Piccinich) 15:49 PPG
0-3 J.J. Piccinich (Elijiah Barriga) 17:28
2nd:
0-4 Scott Conway (J.J. Piccinich) 32:01
3rd:
0-5 Jordan Kawaguchi (Mike Lee) 58:09
All images: Derek Black.
