Challenge Cup | Dundee Stars 3 Glasgow Clan 2 [PSO]

The Premier Sports sponsored Glasgow Clan suffered their first loss under new head coach, Jack Skille with a defeat in Dundee via penalty shots at the hands of the Stars.

Glasgow had early offensive pressure, with Chris Dodero getting the game started with a quick wrist shot to test Carl Stankowski in the opening minute.

Cole Kodsi, David Madsen, and Brady Risk were the main catalysts in the first for the Clan up front and with the three of them on separate lines the pressure was relentless for the hosts to deal with.

Risk continued his hot form with a great shot on the spin from between the hashmarks which sailed through traffic and nearly found a way over the line if not for a late blocker save to stab it away.

Eventually, Reece Harsch broke through with a smart release from the right circle which glided past Stankowski who looked near impenetrable until that point.

At the other end, Sebastian Bengtsson had the best chance of the first period for the Stars as they zipped the puck around the zone through Duggie Lagrone before feeding the Swede at the backdoor in open space but his shot trailed just wide.

The Clan had to kill off a five-on-three penalty kill to start the second period but did well to handle the pressure and see themselves back to full strength thanks to some big-time stops by Rasmus Tirronen.

The rest of the middle frame was rather quiet with neither team taking control although Dundee appeared to have much more of the puck in the offensive zone with both goaltenders having another fine 20 minutes.

Madsen doubled Glasgow’s advantage five minutes into the third period after he broke out on a two-on-one with Mick Messner and picked his spot in the top shelf to rifle a second past Stankowski.

Tirronen then made a great save on Maxim Eliseev out front before batting a Tyson Laventure first-time effort from close range away with a strong reflex save.

The Stars wrestled their way back into the game late on with Evan Brand poking the puck into the crease and causing some mayhem as Tirronen tried to sprawl out on his line to stop Josh Nelson but he couldn’t keep hold of the puck as the six foot seven defenceman arrived to sweep it over the line.

With 50 seconds to go and the netminder pulled for a sixth skater, Dundee went on the powerplay as Jake Johnson was penalised for delaying the game by launching the puck over the glass from his own zone.

With just 35 seconds left, the Stars found their equaliser thanks to another manic play in the crease with Gary Haden taking the credit.

Skille challenged the call from the Clan bench for goaltender interference but was denied after review, granting the home side another powerplay going into overtime.

Glasgow did manage to kill off the penalty in sudden death overtime but neither side could find the game winner in the five minutes forcing the extra point to be decided by penalty shots.

Bengtsson and Risk scored in the first round of penalties with Stankowski and Tirronen putting on a clinic to deny the rest of the shooters.

A Stars goal from Nousiainen and a miss over the bar from Ross Armour for the Clan signed off the game with Dundee claiming the extra point as the Challenge Cup drew to a close for both teams.

Glasgow now look ahead to the league with a home fixture against the Fife Flyers on Friday the 13th the next stop for them.