Stars off the mark with win over Clan

Photo: Derek Black

Dundee Stars got their first win of the season with a grinding 5-2 victory over Glasgow Clan. The Clan remain winless after opening weekend.

Clan forced Stars goalie Richard Sabol into a couple of early glove saves on his debut for the home side, as the visitors created the better of the chances in period one. They found themselves a goal down though when Drydn Dow was on the spot at the top of the crease to knock home a rebound from a Brogan O’Brien shot at 7:30. A minor on each team didn’t produce a powerplay goal for either side before the period was out as the Stars took their one-goal lead into the break.

The Stars looked like they were going to run away with things in the middle period, but found themselves only one ahead by the time the second buzzer sounded. Lucas Brine pulled off an fantastic save with his paddle to prevent the Stars from doubling their lead, but only a few minutes later a rebound spilled out straight into the path of Zachary Tsekosto put the Stars two up. Tsekosto netted his second in in under two minutes with a fine finish in the slot at 25:25 as the Stars were flying.

Darien Kielb deflected Liam Finlay's shot past Sabol just as a Brendan Harms penalty expired, with Finlay then netting on the 30-minunte mark to make it a one-goal game.

Clan were on the front foot for the majority of period three, and had some good pressure to force an equaliser with Sabol there when needed for the hosts. With 54:05 on the clock, Jake Elmer chased down a puck he had no right to get to first, beat the falling Clan defenseman, and slotted past Brine to give the Stars their two-goal cushion back.

Corey Neilson pulled Brine with 3:53 to play as he looked for two goals but without success, having to watch Domenico Alberga slot into the empty net with three seconds remaining.