TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 4 GUILDFORD FLAMES 5 OT
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars claimed their seventh point of the season from Guildford Flames as they made a dramatic comeback to force overtime, before losing out 5-4.
By Kris Smith
The Stars faced an injury crisis that put them three imports down of a full line-up after goaltender Kevin Carr, defender Kyle Pouncy and forward Anthony Rinaldi all picked up knocks that ruled them out of action.
Therefore, 21-year-old, Lucas Brine was given his first start between the pipes for the club and Harry Elder was brought in to back him up and they faced a Guildford team who were only one player down.
The Flames instantly took the lead as just 11 seconds into the game, Lewis Hook’s shot would be saved by Brine before the rebound stopped in the blue paint and left an easy tap in for Brett Ferguson after the Dundee keeper had been unable to recover from the first save.
Dundee were quick to push back and try to find an equaliser but Tazz Burman in the Guildford goal was not giving up anything easy, shutting down the number of chances the Stars created.
Both teams would also have one powerplay in the opening period but failed to capitalise on their man advantage, however the Tayside team had drawn level just before they gained their powerplay as Jake Elmer lit the lamp.
In the 18th minute, the Stars got the puck deep and a tipped shot would rebound off of Burman and into the path of Elmer who buried the puck high into the net to send the two sides into the first break level.
In the second period, the Flames again pounced quickly as they returned to full strength with Alex Yuill sprinting out of the box to knock Drydn Dow off the puck before he played Lewis Hook and Brett Ferguson in on goal, with Hook tucking the puck past Brine.
Then just 27 seconds later, Ryan Hughes was perfectly placed on the edge of the crease to smack home a loose puck to make it 3-1 to the visitors.
Dundee soon responded after putting Paul Dixon’s men under heavy pressure and this time Tommy Parrottino won the puck back high up the ice and found some space to move in on goal, where he stuck the past Burman on the far side.
The Stars could not claw back another before the end of the second period but in the third session, picked up where they left off and continued to get pucks on net.
Although, the Flames would capitalise on another breakaway after exiting the penalty box on 52 minutes and this time Hook broke away with Tait and the latter lifted the puck home.
Marc LeFebvre’s men then set up a tense finish by making it 4-3 with just over three minutes left to play after Brent Beaudoin took the puck in deep before dropping a pass to Elmer and he hit home his second of the night.
The Stars would then utilise their timeout with 90 seconds left and also emptied their net to get the extra-attacker on, which paid off big as Brendan Harms tipped Ryan Valentini’s shot up and over Burman to tie the score at 4-4 in the final minute.
Overtime would then be required to decide a winner and the Flames would create the better of the chances as Dundee began to tire but in the 62nd minute, Peter Crinella called game after moving in on Brine and sticking the puck home up high.
The short-benched Stars made an impressive comeback to claim a point which keeps them in sixth place and they now have a week to rest up before meeting the Flames in Surrey next Saturday.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #44 Lucas Brine
Guildford: #88 Lewis Hook
Goals
1st:
0-1 Brett Ferguson (Lewis Hook, Peter Crinella) 00:11
1-1 Jake Elmer (Carter Johnson, Elijah Vilio) 17:56
2nd:
1-2 Brett Ferguson (Lewis Hook, Alex Yuill) 20:43
1-3 Ryan Hughes (Ryan Tait, Mike Crocock) 21:10
2-3 Tommy Parrottino (James Phelan, Elijah Vilio) 32:50
3rd:
2-4 Ryan Tait (Lewis Hook, Matt Alvaro) 52:08
3-4 Jake Elmer (Brent Beaudoin, Carter Johnson) 56:44
4-4 Brendan Harms (Ryan Valentini, Spencer Naas) 59:06 EA
OT:
4-5 Peter Crinella (Matt Alvaro, Kyle Locke) 61:54
All images: Derek Black.
