By Kris Smith
Buy your tickets NOW for tonight’s game NOW!
The Stars claimed back-to-back victories over Sheffield Steelers in this past weekend to knock them off the top spot and raise themselves up to seventh in the league.
Dundee now have 35 points from 37 games and sit just one points behind Glasgow Clan, who are currently occupying fifth.
However, if the Stars win their four games in hand over Nottingham Panthers, they could move as high as fourth.
Goals from Charlie Combs, Connor Sills (2), Gabriel Desjardins and Sebastian Bengtsson lifted the Stars to a 5-4 shootout victory in Sheffield on Saturday, before on Sunday, Dillon Lawrence and Kalvis Ozols both scored timely goals to give Dundee a 2-1 overtime win.
Tonight, the Devils come to Tayside for the final time in the regular season and are looking to continue their turnaround in form, after they stopped a two-game losing run with a 3-1 home ice victory against the Clan.
Cardiff had dropped points in a 6-3 loss to Glasgow and in a 3-0 defeat to Coventry in the two games prior, but will have no easy task against the ‘red hot’ Stars who they have lost three times to in five fixtures this season.
Omar Pacha’s men have netted 14 times against the Welsh club and won the last two of their three home games against the Devils.
Whilst Jarrod Skalde’s side have scored 17 goals against Dundee, they have fallen back in their hunt for the league title, as they now sit third and three points off the league leaders, Belfast Giants.
The last time these two sides met was just four weeks ago and it was one of the closest games of the Stars season.
Dundee had a 3-0 lead after 43 minutes after Bengtsson bagged a brace and Combs also found the net.
Although, Brodie Reid would net two powerplay goals of his own inside the final four minutes to make it a one-goal game and set up a tense finish, but the Stars held strong to secure the victory.
There are still some doubts over if Dundee goalie, Adam Morrison will be fit to play this evening but if he is not, Pacha is extremely confident in sending out 24-year-old, Brython Preece.
The Welshman was one of the key factors behind the team’s four-point weekend against Sheffield and he looked more than comfortable against the league’s top offence.
Discussing the mid-week challenge, Stars Head Coach, Pacha said: “We just have to keep going!
“We have played Cardiff a few times at home now and most of them have been close games and we won two out of three including the Challenge Cup.
“So, it will be a tough challenge, but we have played some good hockey lately and hopefully that continues tonight.”
Addressing his current goaltending situation, the Stars boss commented: “I am confident with Preecer going in and we are obviously very aware of the situation with Mo (Morrison) and trying to make sure he will be ready sooner rather than later.
“But to have Preecer come in and do a job he like he did this past weekend, that is the reason why he will be in.”
After scoring his first goal for the Stars, which could not have been any more crucial, Latvian defender, Ozols added: “It felt great, the crowd was amazing and it was emotional.
“(Drydn) Dow gave me a great pass and it was a great weekend for the boys against a big team like Sheffield.
“The fans helped a lot and hopefully on Wednesday we can pack the house.
“Because, the fans can see some great hockey and feel the great atmosphere here and just like me, they will love it here.”
Face-off for tonight’s match in Dundee is t 7:30pm. Buy your tickets HERE!
