By Kris Smith
The Stars have beaten both Cardiff Devils, 5-3 and Fife Flyers, 4-2 at home in the last two weeks and can extend that winning run to three matches if they can defeat the Clan this evening.
However, a bounce-back performance will be needed after Dundee went down 6-1 in Glasgow yesterday evening and that game would be scoreless through the first period, before the Clan ran into a 3-0 lead.
John Dunbar opened the scoring just 75 seconds into the second period, before Craig Peacock jammed home a second goal for the home side, whilst on the powerplay and Dunbar would find the net again on 32 minutes.
The Stars would get off the mark inside the final minute of the second period when Romans Semjenovs finished off a loose effort from Ian Parker to convert on the powerplay, but in the third period, Stephen Dixon’s men would hit home three more goals.
Steven McParland would make it 4-1 with a powerplay goal just 90 seconds after the restart and two minutes later, Kevin Massy’s effort hit the back of the net, before in the 54th minute, Peacock also netted his brace.
There were plenty of penalties called by referees Daniel Ferguson and Pavel Halas as the game’s intense atmosphere began to boil over and still threatens to spill over into tonight’s game at the DIA.
The Stars were at full strength last night and only played without two-way forward, Jonathan McBean with a similar line-up set to hit the ice again tonight.
Speaking after last night’s loss in Glasgow, Stars Head Coach, Jeff Mason said: “I thought one team competed hard and one team played with urgency, and unfortunately that was not us.
“We were delayed coming in and did not get a long time to warm-up and I did not think we managed the game well early on to allow ourselves a chance to get our feet into the game and to get physically into the game.”
With the chance to gain immediate redemption at home tonight, Mason added: “We are trying to build consistency as we have lacked it throughout the season.
“We appreciate the short travel, it beats seven or eight hours on a bus and getting home really late, but at the same time, we have to make sure we take advantage of that and take advantage of a good night’s sleep.
“The big thing for us is getting off to a good start and trying to play from the front because we are a much better team when we are playing with a lead than chasing a game.”
Face-off is at 7pm and you can buy your tickets HERE.
All images: Derek Black.
