By Luke McGinnis
The Stars got off to a strong start, as Keanu Yamamoto opened the scoring at 07:33. Strong work along the boards by Otto Nieminen forced a neutral-zone turnover and created a 2-on-1 rush, where Ben Almquist threaded a perfect pass to Yamamoto, who beat former Stars netminder Kevin Carr to make it 1-0.
Nottingham generated a number of quality chances throughout the opening period, including a four-minute power play after Spencer Naas was assessed a double-minor for high sticking. However, Emil Kruse was sharp between the pipes, turning aside all 12 shots he faced as Dundee carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Nottingham levelled the score at 30:07 through David Noël. Despite Kruse making back-to-back saves, the puck fell to Noël in the high slot, where he blasted a one-timer into the Stars’ net to make it 1-1.
The Stars responded less than 90 seconds later, with Jonathan McBean restoring the lead at 31:32. Jackson DeSouza carried the puck into the offensive zone and fired a wrist shot from the right circle. Carr made the initial pad save, but the rebound fell to McBean, who made no mistake and buried it past the Panthers’ netminder.
Keanu Yamamoto scored his second of the night at 33:35, converting on the power play after Johnny Curran was assessed a slashing penalty. A shot from Justin Bean at the point went wide, but Yamamoto was first to the loose puck and slotted it past Carr to make it 3-1.
David Noël pulled a goal back for the Panthers at 56:04, netting his second of the game on the power play with a shot from the point.
Captain Drydn Dow restored the two-goal cushion less than a minute later, picking up a pass from Otto Nieminen on a 2-on-1 rush and beating Carr at 57:19.
The Panthers once again made it a one-goal game at 57:45, as Tim Doherty redirected a point shot from David Noël past Kruse.
Despite a late surge from Nottingham, the Stars held firm to secure a massive road victory and two crucial points.
