By Kris Smith
The Stars snapped a seven game losing run last night with a 3-2 home victory over Manchester Storm and the goals came from Philippe Sanche (2) and Connor Sills.
The last time Dundee played Belfast was two weeks ago and the Giants were 4-1 winners against a depleted Stars team.
However, since then, forwards, Sanche and Sebastian Bengtsson have returned to the line-up and also, the suspended Kyle Haas will be available tonight, as his three-match suspension for charging is complete.
Omar Pacha’s men will be aiming to claim their second win of the season over the Giants, who had won their last four matches on the bounce, before falling to a 4-2 defeat in Cardiff last night.
Adam Keefe’s side, went 1-0 up against the Devils through JJ Piccinich, who then tied the game at 2-2 in the third period, before two late strikes from the Welsh club sent Belfast home empty-handed.
The last time the Giants were at home against the Stars, they were taken all the way to a shootout but Belfast would prevail after penalties.
The Scots had pegged the Giants back twice, with Gabriel Desjardins (2) and Sills cancelling out the goals of Tyler Soy, David Goodwin and Scott Conway, before Conway scored the decisive penalty.
The two Giants with the most goals against the Stars this year are JJ Piccinich and Goodwin, with four each, while Desjardins, Charlie Combs and Sills have all put a pair past the Irish side.
Looking ahead to tonight’s clash at the SSE Arena, Swedish winger, Bengtsson said:
“Well it is one of the toughest road trips for us and we been there a couple of times now.
“So, we know we need to play a tight game defensively and cannot allow them any easy scoring chances since they are a very skilled team.”
Dundee goaltender, Adam Morrison is very familiar with the ferry trip to Belfast and what it takes to win in Northern Ireland, from both his time in Dundee and Fife.
He then added: “We have to weather their storm!
“They feed off their building and they thrive in that environment, so for us, it is about managing the start.
“They are going to come out hard and the fans are going to be right behind them.
“So, just by managing your start it will help get the bus legs out of you and let the game settle in and find a pace – and one that you are comfortable with.
“Then you push yourself to play at a pace that you need to play at, in order to win.”
Face-off time for tonight’s game in Belfast is at 4pm.
