Stars come from behind for road win

Photo: John Uwins

Dundee Stars scored a late tying goal and then won it in a shootout on the road in Guildford, as the Flames threw away points inside the final 90 seconds for the third successive game.

The first 5 minutes of the opening period saw Guildford maintain consistent pressure, which paid off when Charlie Dodero opened the scoring at 03:51 with a slapshot that beat Richard Sabol five-hole.

After an initial save from Sabol on Daniel Tedeso on a chance down low, a scramble in front of the Stars’ net allowed Mike Crocock to double the lead with a wrist shot from the faceoff dot at 14:48.

The Stars managed to get on the board and cut the lead to one in the closing moments of the first period at 19:23. A stretch pass from Drydn Dow found Kameron Kielly, who beat Eamon McAdam blocker side on a breakaway.

In a second period that featured end-to-end action and chances for both teams, it was newcomer Charlie Curti who opened the period scoring at 28:08 after his shot from the point beat Sabol glove side.

The game was delayed for a lengthy period while Jake Coughler received treatment from an injury. When things resumed, Matt Alvaro added to the lead for the home team, with a tight-angle shot that deflected off the stick of a Stars defender and soared past the Stars netminder at 30:23.

Dundee once again managed to cut the lead in half, this time through Domenic Alberga who capitalised on a turnover in the Guildford zone, beating McAdam with a wrist shot at 35:30.

The visitors entered the third period looking to generate some momentum, and Zach Tsekos delivered at 45:52. A shot from Kyle Pouncy took an awkward bounce toward the net, and it was Tsekos who found himself the beneficiary, slotting the puck into the net to make it a one-goal game. A late Guildford penalty gave Alex Tonge the chance to score a crucial equaliser at 58:33, with the forward managing to get behind the Flames' defense unnoticed and fire a shot over McAdam's pads, sending the game into overtime.

An eventful overtime period featured plenty of chances for both teams, with Guildford almost securing the win with a shot from Ryan Tait that hit the inside post of a wide-open Stars net. It wasn’t meant to be, however, and the clock struck zero and sent the game into a shootout to decide the extra point.

Jarrett Fiske, who relieved Richard Sabol in goal after the fourth Guildford goal, stood firm and blanked all of Guildford’s attempts. At the other end of the ice, Eamon McAdam was beaten thrice, securing the first set of league points for the Dundee Stars.