TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 2 FIFE FLYERS 6
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars missed out on a chance to secure their playoff spot tonight as they suffered their first regular season loss to Fife Flyers, going down 6-2.
By Kris Smith
The Stars made one change to their line-up from Wednesday’s loss in Cardiff as veteran forward, Josh Brittain returned to action after missing the last two games.
The packed-out Dundee Ice Arena then witnessed a scrappy but battling first 20 minutes as both teams found the net but were still inseparable as the end of the first period.
Dundee would open the scoring in the 10th minute as Ryan Valentini buried Spencer Naas pass after the pair broke down the ice and converted a counter-attack past Fife netminder, Shane Owen.
The visitors would equalise just two minutes later as Kevin Wehrs long-range effort flew past Lucas Brine and into the top of the net, setting up an intense battle for the next goal.
After only two minutes of play in the second session, Kyle Osterberg put the Flyers in front as he pinched the puck from the Dundee defence behind the net and circled to the front before scoring on his own rebound.
The Stars would reply within 76 seconds as they created another two-on-one break and this time Carter Johnson set-up Jake Elmer to apply the backdoor finish, levelling the score at 2-2.
However, once again Tom Coolen’s men found a goal two minutes after the restart as Osterberg was on target again, this time slipping the puck between the legs of Brine as he drove towards goal.
Fife’s Teemu Pulkkinen then gave the Kirkcaldy club some breathing room as he made it 4-2 after being left unmarked on the doorstep of the Dundee goal and easily pulled the puck around Brine, inside 31 minutes.
The Stars needed a big third period as they had failed to find another way past Owen, despite putting 42 shots on goal through 40 minutes.
The third period then saw Fife extend their advantage to three goals on 46 minutes as Colin Shirley was able to tap in the rebound from Troy Lajeunesse’s saved effort, making it 5-2 to the Flyers.
The Stars were still unable to find a route back into the game and with the pressure building, Osterberg completed his hat-trick with a low slotted shot past Brine in the 56th minute and that secured the Flyers place in the playoffs but left, Dundee with it all to play for in Fife tomorrow as they must win to try and take back sixth place in the Elite League table.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #98 Jake Elmer
Fife: #50 Shane Owen
Goals
1st:
1-0 Ryan Valentini (Spencer Naas) 09:29
1-1 Kevin Wehrs (Drake Pilon, Kyle Osterberg) 11:36
2nd:
1-2 Kyle Osterberg (Unassisted) 22:46
2-2 Jake Elmer (Carter Johnson, Drydn Dow) 23:52
2-3 Kyle Osterberg (Colin Shirley, Aleski Makela) 25:42
2-4 Teemu Pulkkinen (Max Humitz, Colin Shirley) 31:23
3rd:
2-5 Colin Shirley (Troy Lajeunesse, Kevin Wehrs) 46:09
2-6 Kyle Osterberg (Troy Lajeunesse) 55:51
All images: Derek Black.
