TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 2 CARDIFF DEVILS 5
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars were well matched against Cardiff Devils for two periods on Wednesday night but a four-minute lapse cost them the game.
By Kris Smith
The Stars gained their top scorer, Ryan Valentini back into the line-up after he missed the last match through illness but Dundonian defender, Kris Inglis remained out through injury.
The opening period saw both teams battle out a stalemate as the score would remain unchanged through the first 20 minutes but there were a number of good chances created by each side.
Cole Ully, Evan Mosey and Cole Sandford all had chances for Cardiff as they made late moves to the back post of Kevin Carr’s goal but at the other end, Ryan Valentini was closest to opening the scoring, on 12 minutes.
Dundee’s Spencer Naas had forced a save from netminder, Ben Bowns and he turned the puck behind his net but into the path of Valentini who went for a wraparound attempt and as he tried to elevate his shot, Bowns snatched away the chance with his trapper.
In the second period, the visitors would break the deadlock in the 25th minute, when Sanford picked out the top left corner of the Stars net from the right circle and that ignited the Stars tempo as they became hungry for an equaliser.
However, Pete Russell’s men soon doubled their lead and began to choke the Stars out of the game, as a good passing move forced Carr to work from post-to-post before Jamie Arniel blasted a second shot past the Canadian keeper on 36 minutes.
Then two minutes later, the Devils came forward again and a drop pass from Marcus Crawford was picked up by Brandon Alderson, who stuck it in via the underside of the crossbar.
The Welsh club then made it 4-0 before the break as Sanford netted his brace with a buzzer beater which flew past Carr on his catcher side with one second left on the clock.
Then in the third session, Dundee finally broke through as Valentini played a quick one-two with Naas and that left Valentini with an easy finish past Bowns inside 52 minutes.
Marc LeFebvre’s side then found themselves on the powerplay late in the game and the Stars boss gambled with his goalie for the extra attacker, but Marcus Crawford’s clearance would inadvertently find the empty net, to make it 5-1 in the 57th minute.
Although, the Tayside team did not give up and got a second goal as Brendan Harms swatted home the rebound from Brent Beaudoin’s saved shot and that rounded off the scoring at 5-2.
Despite suffering defeat, there is no time for Dundee to dwell as next up for the Stars is a visit from the current league leaders, Sheffield Steelers on Saturday before they head south on Sunday to face Nottingham Panthers.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #81 Brendan Harms
Cardiff: #96 Cole Sanford
Goals
1st:
2nd:
0-1 Cole Sanford (Trevor Cox, Marcus Crawford) 24:53
0-2 Jamie Arniel (Cole Ully, Evan Mosey) 36:20
0-3 Brandon Alderson (Marcus Crawford, Cole Ully) 38:29
0-4 Cole Sanford (Joey Martin, Trevor Cox) 39:59
3rd:
1-4 Ryan Valentini (Spencer Naas, Kyle Pouncy) 54:02
1-5 Marcus Crawford (Ben Bowns) 56:30 SHG ENG
2-5 Brendan Harms (Brent Beaudoin, Drydn Dow) 57:02 PPG
All images: Derek Black.
