Flames prevent Stars moving back into playoffs

Photo: Derek Black

Guildford Flames moved back to within a point of fourth pplace with a 3-2 win on the road in Dundee, denying the Stars the chance of moving back into the playoff places.

The two sides went over 25 minutes without a goal at the Dundee Ice Arena, but then split four in the final 15 minutes of the second period. The best Stars' chance of the opening period fell to Ryan Valentini through on a breakaway, but he was thwarted by Eamon McAdam. 

Indeed, both goalies pulled off excellent stops to keep things scoreless. That was until the Flames worked the puck to Peter Crinella on the edge of circle to beat Lucas Brine high and open the scoring at 26:09. Moments later, Brine pulled off an incredible save with the paddle to stop the Flames going two ahead. His team responded with two goals in under two minutes. Valentini went through on Burman again and this team finished five-hole to tie the game at 32:08, before Spencer Naas tipped an Elijah Vilio shot in front of the Flames goalie to put the hosts ahead with 33:58 played. Jordan Klimek made things all square again, coming in to follow up on a rebound from a Ryan Tait effort with 71 seconds left in the period.

Klimek notched his second of the night with the Flames' go-ahead goal 9:07 from the end of regulation. That eventually proved to be the game-winner, despite Brine being pulled for the extra skate for the final 65 seconds.