TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 7 NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS 4
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars produced a big third period comeback to defeat Nottingham Panthers in style, on Retro Night at the DIA and they claimed two massive points to put them back into the playoff spots, with eight games left to play.
By Kris Smith
The Stars saw some changes to their line-up as defenseman, Chris McKay missed out through suspension as he serves his one match ban and he joined injured trio; Kevin Carr, Craig Garrigan and Tommy Parrottino on the sidelines.
Although, defenseman, Xavier Pouliot was back in the line-up and he came close to opening the scoring as he stepped into a first-time slapshot and blasted it on net but Rok Stojanovic held the stinging effort well.
The Panthers did have the first chance of the game as Otto Nieminen fired a high shot that would only be kept out by the crossbar and that had set the tone for a fast-paced, end-to-end match.
The first goal of the night came in the 12th minute as Brent Beaudoin put the Stars in front with a deceiving effort into the bottom right corner, whilst both sides were down to four skaters and his shot trickled past the Nottingham netminder after coming off the inside of the post.
Despite sparking a big lift in atmosphere at the DIA, their lead would not last long as Jonathan Paredes men hit back one minute later with a powerplay goal as Nieminen tipped Alexander Lunsjo’s shot past Dundee keeper, Lucas Brine.
The visitors then found the go-ahead-goal on 17 minutes as Nieminen netted another, this time latching onto a pass from Didrik Henbrant and sweeping it under the British goalie.
Just as it looked like Nottingham would hold their lead going into the first break, Dundee’s Elijah Vilio raced down the left flank and picked out Jake Elmer standing in the middle of the Panthers end, where he would turn home the equaliser with 49 seconds left on the clock.
The second session saw more back and forth scoring and after the Taysiders failed to converted on a powerplay, Anthony Luciani restored the Panthers advantage inside 34 minutes as he finished high past Brine, following a turnover by the Stars in their own end.
However, Marc LeFebvre’s men would strike back just 57 seconds later to make it 3-3 as Anthony Rinaldi burst forward and quickly broke through the English outfit’s defences, before then burying his shot past Stojanovic.
Although, there would be another twist in the tale before the second intermission as Otto Nieminen sealed his hat-trick with a buzzer-beating goal.
The clock had ticked down to the final second when Nieminen deflected Henbrant’s shot past Brine to give Nottingham a 4-3 lead heading into the final 20 minutes.
The third period would contain even more goals as the Stars produced a romping comeback to take a 6-4 lead, scoring three times in three minutes, with Josh Brittain starting it all off with a powerplay goal as he lifted his shot into the top corner to tie the game, inside 44 minutes.
Two minutes later, Ryan Valentini added his name to the scoresheet by finishing off a good passing move around the back of the net, as he poked the puck past Stojanovic to put Dundee 5-4 ahead.
Then, 54 seconds after the restart, Elmer found James Phelan on the left side and played the puck across to the Canadian, where he placed his shot high into the goal, giving the Stars a two-goal cushion
Dundee captain, Drydn Dow then sealed the crucial victory for the Stars as he latched onto a stray pass from the Nottingham defence in the 58th minute and had time to pick his spot over the shoulder of the Panthers goaltender.
The Stars claimed a vital 7-4 victory to put themselves back into the playoff places and distance themselves from the Panthers, by five points but they cannot stop now as they face another must-win contest on Wednesday evening, when Guildford Flames come to Dundee.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #98 Jake Elmer
Nottingham: #43 Otto Nieminen
Goals
1st:
1-0 Brent Beaudoin (Jake Elmer, Elijah Vilio) 11:33
1-1 Otto Nieminen (Alexander Lunsjo, Mathieu Lemay) 12:36 PPG
1-2 Otto Nieminen (Didrik Henbrant) 17:22
2-2 Jake Elmer (Elijah Vilio, Craig Moore) 19:11
2nd:
2-3 Anthony Luciani (Westin Michaud, Jordan Kelsall) 33:22
3-3 Anthony Rinaldi (Kyle Pouncy, James Phelan) 34:19
3-4 Otto Nieminen (Didrik Henbrant, Simon Despres) 39:58
3rd:
4-4 Josh Brittain (Kyle Pouncy, Spencer Naas) 43:41 PPG
5-4 Ryan Valentini (Jake Elmer, Kyle Pouncy) 45:43
6-4 James Phelan (Jake Elmer, Ryan Valentini) 46:37
7-4 Drydn Dow (Unassisted) 57:45
All images: Derek Black.
