By Luke McGinnis
The opening period in Dundee featured high-paced action on both ends of the ice, with shots split narrowly 11:10 in favour of Belfast.
The Stars gained the first powerplay opportunity of the night, as Christian Berger was called for delay-of-game after the puck went cleanly over the boards.
Despite a number of good chances on the man-advantage, Jackson Whistle was sharp and denied Dundee the opening goal of the game.
Belfast scored the lone-goal of the first period at 12:38 through Nicolas Guay who fired a rebound past Carl Stankowski after the Stars’ netminder had made a pad save on a shot from the high-slot by Patrick Guay.
Ciaran Long doubled the visitors lead at 28:05, displaying a high-level of patience as he fired a wrist shot off the rush from the right circle past Stankowski.
Christian Berger added a third for the Giants at 32:31, beating Stankowski with a quick shot from the high-slot.
Tensions began to rise at 36:30 as Stars’ captain Travis Ewanyk and Jaeden Martin were both assessed two-minute minors for roughing, setting up a physical final period in Dundee.
After Ciaran Long cross-checked Maxim Eliseev in front of the Giants net, Ewanyk took exception and immediately dropped the gloves, with both sitting for five minutes for fighting and Long receiving an extra two.
Sebastian Bengtsson got the Stars’ on the board just as the penalty to Long expired to make it 3-1. Maxim Eliseev fed a pass to the Swede who made no mistake with a shot off the rush at 48:21.
Dundee pushed hard for a second goal late, even pulling Stankowski for the extra attacker, however it proved too little, too late as the Giants held on to secure two Challenge Cup points.
