By Kris Smith
The Stars won their last time against Belfast, overcoming the Giants 4-2 in Dundee.
After leading 2-0 through two early Charlie Combs powerplay strikes, Belfast pulled it back to 2-2 before Timi Lahtinen netted a late winner and Dillon Lawrence secured the result with an empty net goal.
Although, Adam Keefe’s men have won the other two ties between the two clubs, claiming a 6-3 win in Scotland and a 2-0 victory on home ice.
The four injured Stars players who are set to miss out for tonight’s match are defensemen, Craig Moore and Markus Kankaanperä, and also forwards, Alexandre Ranger and Toms Rutkis.
However, 17-year-old, Dundonian, Ben Brown was drafted in to play in last night’s 4-3 defeat to Fife Flyers.
Dundee had led 1-0 after the first period but soon found themselves 2-1 down, before pulling off a quick comeback to head into the final period a goal up.
Although, two later powerplay strikes from the Flyers handed the Kirkcaldy club their first Challenge Cup win of the season.
Whereas the Giants were shutout 3-0 in Manchester yesterday evening, as the Storm supressed the Northern Irish side’s high-powered offence.
After a disappointing result against Fife, Stars Head Coach, Omar Pacha looked ahead to tonight’s battle in Belfast and said: “We are going to build on the positives, as much as I am frustrated right now, with this week so far.
“We have to build on our five-on-five play, because right now that is for the most part, even in Manchester, was fine.
“Now our special teams have to step it up a notch, it is the pure reality of what is going on right now.
“It is good that we got a powerplay goal against Fife, but out penalty kill has to be a lot better and yes we lost our two best killers before last night’s game, but somebody is going to have to step up in those opportunities.”
Face-off time for tonight’s match in Belfast is at 4pm.
