Stars hold on for second win over Panthers
Photo: Derek Black
Dundee Stars got the better of Nottingham Panthers for the second time in a week with a 2-1 victory at Dundee Ice Arena with over 1,800 fans in attendance.
The Stars followed up their 5-2 victory in Nottingham a week prior with a hard-fought home win that saw the game’s only three goals all scored in a five-minute window of the second period.
"We are pretty happy with two points, I think it was a great team effort. It’s a very important so we are happy we could get them, especially at home in front of our fans," said goalie Richard Sabol, who stopped 41 shots on the night.
A scoreless opening period in Dundee saw both teams generate some high-quality scoring chances, with both Richard Sabol and Rok Stojanovič being tested. The Stars controlled the pace for the first 10 minutes, however the visiting Panthers pushed and spent the last 10 back into things. Despite this, no team could find the back of the net and ended the period 0-0.
Dundee broke the deadlock 02:01 into the second period, capitalising on the first power play opportunity of the game.
After Sabol shut the door on a short handed breakaway opportunity for the Panthers, the Stars rushed back up the ice and some quick passing by Jake Elmer and Drydn Dow set up Zach Tsekos who sent the puck past Stojanovic.
The home team wasted no time in doubling their lead, with Drydn Dow finding the back of the net at 24:37. Brendan Harms sent the Stars' captain the puck in the neutral zone, who skated it behind the Panthers net and wrapped it around on his backhand to give the Stars a 2-0 lead.
It took Nottingham less than two minutes to respond, as they cut the deficit in half at 26:23. Oliver Betteridge took the puck over the blue line and fired it from the left of Sabol, Reid Stefanson was waiting in the slot and tapped the puck into the back of the Stars net.
The Panthers pressed in the third as they searched for the equaliser, but kept coming up against a defiant Sabol. Stojanovič left for the extra skater with 1:53 still to play as chaos took place in front of Sabol's net but the puck somehow stayed out. Indeed.
Tsekos was the home side's hero as he swept a puck off the goal line inside the final minute to keep the Stars ahead - a play the officials checked the video to for to be certain. Matt Alfaro took a Tripping minor with 17 seconds to go after the puck came out of the Stars' zone which effectively ended the game.
Speaking of the frantic last few minutes, Sabol added: "You try not to think too much, you try to be in the moment and keep your eyes on the puck to try and make a save.
"We have great fans, they are loud and are cheering for us all game long which definitely helps but we need to take points from the away games, we can’t just rely on our home games."
