Stars come from behind, win in OT

Photo: Derek Black

Dundee Stars came from two goals down in the final period to tie the game and then took the extra point in overtime to move three points clear in seventh place.

“I thought we played really well, obviously we were down 3-1 in the third, but I thought we had the better of the play for most of the game," said OT hero Zach Tsekos. "We gave up a few too many grade A chances, but I thought as far as zone time and time of possession it was one of our better games in a while, to capitalise late in the third is something we deserved.”

Guildford opened the scoring in a fast-paced first period in Dundee, with Samuel Talbot crashing the net and scoring his first of the season after tipping a shot off the rush past Richard Sabol at 07:28. The Stars answered back just over a minute later at 08:49, equalising with a goal in similar fashion. Brett Gravelle sent a shot towards the net, where Keanu Yamamoto was waiting to knock the puck over Jake Kupsky. 

Josh Waller regained the lead for the visitors at 12:37, finding space along the left wing and beating Sabol with a wrist shot over his shoulder to make it 2-1 heading into the second period. 

A scoreless second period saw numerous high-quality chances for both teams, putting both netminders to the test throughout. 

The Stars came close to evening the score, including a power play that saw Brett Gravelle miss a wide-open net. The Flames, meanwhile, generated multiple breakaways but failed to capitalise on any and extend their lead. 

Richard Sabol and Jake Kupsky both denied everything put their way, as the score remained 2-1 heading into the third period.

Straight off a faceoff win, Brett Welychka beat Sabol from the top of the circle to put the Flaes two ahead with less than 14 minutes remaining. A Brendan Harms shot beat Kupsky through traffic to pull the Stars back to just one behind 1:58 later, before the Stars then tied the game with 11 minutes to play - Keanu Yamamoto following up a Philippe Sanche shot and firing home.

“We just stuck with it, knowing that we had played a good game up until that point, eventually you just think you’re going to break through and once we got the one we knew we were going to get the second," added Tsekos. "It was just about breaking through with that first one, and then from there we just kept on doing the same thing we were doing for the first 50 minutes and eventually broke through.”

The Flames had the best chance to win the game in OT when Yamamoto was called for hooking, and they enjoyed 1:50 of powerplay time. That was cut short by Travis Brown's holding minor, and just 55 seconds later Zach Tsekos fired home to win it for the home side.

Said Tsekos of his OT winner: It’s just a flood of emotions, it makes you feel like a little kid again so it was nice to score that one.”