TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 1 CARDIFF DEVILS 3
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars were on the wrong side of a 3-1 score line on Sunday night as they lost out on home ice against Cardiff Devils, in what was a feisty and physical battle.
By Kris Smith
The Stars came out needing only one point and a Manchester Storm regulation loss to book their ticket to the Elite League Playoffs but after eight minutes of play, they found themselves 1-0 behind to the Welsh club.
As Cardiff came forward, Jarrod Gourley picked out Cody Donaghey at the back door and he was able to finish past netminder, Jarrett Fiske and that forced the home team to step up their game early.
Marc LeFebvre’s men would cause the Devils some trouble but they were then caught out on their own blueline in the 12th minute as Kris Inglis’ attempted switch pass was intercepted by Zach O’Brien and he would dispatch the puck between the legs of Fiske to double Cardiff’s lead.
Although, the Taysiders did respond to cut the lead back down to one goal just a few minutes later as Zach Tsekos’ powerful effort was stopped by Ben Bowns and became lost in the goalkeeper’s pads but as he dropped down to freeze the play, the puck fell into the back of the Devils net.
Dundee also had a late powerplay chance before the first break but remained a goal behind at the start of the second period and in the middle stanza, the intensity levels between both sides ramped up, which resulted in a few scraps after a season-long rivalry between the two teams.
First to drop the gloves was Xavier Pouliot as the Dundee forward, went toe-to-toe with Devils’ defenseman, Andrew MacWilliam after some cross-checks were exchanged.
Pouliot would get the better of his opponent in the 33rd minute and MacWilliam would have to be sent to the medics for some repairs before rejoining the action later in the match.
Both players received five-minute penalties for fighting but Pouliot would be locked up for an extra 12 minutes for instigating the scrap.
Shortly after the fight, Dundee had a second man advantage but failed to make it count and the Devils would then punish the Stars lack of clinical finishing.
In the 37th minute, O’Brien found the back of the net again as he skipped his way through the home team’s defences and lifted the puck past Fiske, making it 3-1 with only a few minutes left in the second session.
Dundee again pushed hard for a response but as the clock wound down, there was a coming together at the buzzer and Zach Tsekos would collide with Cardiff’s Riley Brandt, who did not like the late contact and instantly jumped on top of Tsekos, reigning punches down on the Canadian, who was stuck on the floor.
Dundonian, Kris Inglis quickly stepped in to pull Brandt off his teammate and as the two tussle, Brandt then wanted to fight Inglis and the pair broke off into a tilt.
After the two were separated, both were thrown out of the game: Inglis for being the third man in to the altercation and Brandt for his unsportsmanlike conduct but Dundee would be left with another man advantage for a few minutes at the start of the third period.
MacWilliam then added to the Devil’s woes as he took a tripping penalty in the 42nd minute, reducing Pete Russell’s side to three skaters but the visitors would do well to fend off the Stars attacks and keep their two-goal cushion intact.
Despite Dundee pushing until the very end, the Devils would remain 3-1 in front and took the victory, which now leaves the Stars only two points ahead of Manchester Storm after the English club defeated league title hopefuls, Belfast Giants 4-1 in Northern Ireland.
A tense finish has been set up for the final two games of the Elite League season as both the league winners and final playoff team will be decided but the Stars must simply win their final two games to secure their spot and standing in their way is an all-Scottish rivalry weekend, as they visit Glasgow Clan on Friday night before hosting Fife Flyers in a Tayside Derby on Sunday.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #17 Zach Tsekos
Cardiff: #33 Ben Bowns
Goals
1st:
0-1 Cody Donaghey (Jarrod Gourley, Ryan Barrow) 08:57
0-2 Zach O’Brien (Unassisted) 11:01
1-2 Zach Tsekos (Spencer Naas, Brendan Harms) 15:43
2nd:
1-3 Zach O’Brien (Kohen Olischefski) 36:46
3rd:
All images: Derek Black.
