TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 3 FIFE FLYERS 2 OT
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars maintained their unbeaten league run against their bitter rivals, Fife Flyers with a 3-2 overtime victory at home, on Saturday night.
By Kris Smith
The Stars were only without defenseman, Sean Allen as he served the final game of his two-match suspension and they were up against a Flyers side who had been bolstered by the return of goaltender, Shane Owen to their line-up.
Despite Dundee getting on the attack early, they soon had to defend a five-minute powerplay as Brendan Harms was given the major penalty for sending Sean Giles into the boards in the fourth minute, but they would see it out comfortably as Fife struggled to get themselves set up.
The home side then got their first chance on the man advantage but failed to convert as they continued to test Owen throughout the opening period.
However, inside the final minute of the first session, Jake Elmer would then fire a low shot on goal from a narrow angle and Brent Beaudoin would get a touch on it as he skated past, which sent the puck in via the skate of Owen.
Even with the Canadian’s attempts to claw it out of the net, the Stars took the lead with 24 seconds left to play and in the second period they would push hard to extend their lead.
Although, when Harms ended up back in the box for interference, Colin Shirley capitalised with a quick finish into the top corner from between the face-off circles, on 29 minutes.
Marc LeFebvre’s powerplay unit then missed their chance again to cash in on the man advantage and ended the second period level at 1-1, but thanks to a swift strike from Josh Brittain, they got back in front just two minutes into the third stanza.
After Anthony Rinaldi’s shot was stopped by Owen, the rebound fell perfectly for Brittain out in front and he smacked a low shot home to restore the lead.
After wasting another powerplay opportunity, the Flyers finally punished Dundee for not making their chances count and equalised with only six minutes left to play, as Kyle Osterberg’s slapshot from inside the blueline found its way past Kevin Carr via the goal post.
No winner would be found in the final minutes, despite both teams going for it right until the end and overtime would be required but it took less than a minute to decide the outcome.
The Stars controlled the play through the opening minutes and when Spencer Naas rifled a shot towards, it would be turned up and come back off the glass but into the path of Dundee captain, Drydn Dow.
As the puck dropped it bounced off the skates of Dow, trickled past Owen and into the net to win the Stars the extra point, however the goal would be checked with a video review after appeals from the Flyers of a kicking motion but the call on the ice stood.
The Stars stay in sixth place and just five points behind second but have the challenge of going into Sheffield and upsetting the league leading Steelers tomorrow.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #6 Drydn Dow
Fife: #79 Kyle Osterberg
Goals
1st:
1-0 Brent Beaudoin (Jake Elmer, Carter Johnson) 19:36
2nd:
1-1 Colin Shirley (Kyle Osterberg, Kevin Wehrs) 29:24 PPG
3rd:
2-1 Josh Brittain (James Phelan, Anthony Rinaldi) 41:45
2-2 Kyle Osterberg (Troy Lajeunesse, Sean Giles) 54:00
OT:
3-2 Drydn Dow (Spencer Naas, Ryan Valentini) 60:46
All images: Derek Black.
