Stars hit .500 with road win

Photo: Scott Wiggins

Dundee Stars made it 40 points from 40 games played with a 2-1 win in Coventry against the Blaze, moving themselves four points clear of ninth place.

Only one goal separated the teams through the opening 20 minutes, and it was the Stars’ top line that got it. 67 seconds into the period, Spencer Naas put the visitors into a lead they’d hold through until the first buzzer with a debut assist for Xavier Pouliot.

That early goal from the Stars held through 40 minutes as Kevin Carr stopped all 26 shots he faced in the opening two periods to keep Dundee ahead.

A communication breakdown behind the Stars net left Danny Kristo with the puck on a plate to tie the game at 6:21 into period three. The visitors went back ahead under five minutes later, however. During some 4-on-4 play, the puck fell to Ryan Valentini who snapped a wrist shot home in the slot to put Dundee back ahead at 51:04 - his 20th goal of the seaosn.

There was late drama with the Blaze thinking they'd tied the game with 22 seconds left, but after video review the officials washed the goal out for the puck not having crossed the goal line. Dundee held on to take a much-needed road win, ending their lengthy run of defeats.