Verrier wins for late for Stars

Photo: Derek Black

Ryan Verrier hit Dundee's game-winner just under six minutes to play as the Stars beat local rivals Fife Flyers 3-2 at the Dundee Ice Arena on Boxing Day.

After a scoreless opening period where the Stars just about shaded the better of the few chances in an end to end game, it was the home side that opened the scoring in period two: Johan Eriksson beating Shane Owen with a well-placed wrist-shot just 4:46 into the second.

Both sides had a powerplay to try and change the scores, but with those not producing any goals it would eventually fall to the Flyers to tie the game. With 35:22 played, a bad turnover by the home side set up Janne Laakkonen to find namesake Kivilahti for a slapshot that trickled through Anton Svensson's five-hole.

Jonas Emmerdahl's neat toe-drag and even better wrist shot top shelf put the Flyers ahead 2:09 into period three, but the visitors' advantage lasted only 74 seconds until Ben Sokay took Carter Folk's pass on the red line and did the rest himself to tie the game up on a 2-on-1.

With 5:55 to play, the Flyers' defense back off Ryan Verrier on the point which allowed the Stars' defenseman to roll the puck low through Owen's five-hole and put Dundee back ahead. Fife pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, but a late penalty on Chris Lawrence all but ended their hopes of tying things up. The win saw the Stars leapfrog the Flyers in the Viaplay Elite League standings.