Challenge Cup | Glasgow Clan 5 Dundee Stars 6 [AOT]

The Premier Sports sponsored Glasgow Clan were defeated on home ice by the Dundee Stars in the Challenge Cup after a thrilling night at the Braehead Arena in a game that had 11 goals and four fights.

After Mike Sirant mutually agreed to depart his role at the Clan, interim head coach Steve Birnstill made some adjustments to the lines, taking Cole Kodsi out of the fruitful second line in place of Deven Sideroff who steps down from the top forward line.

The change proved worthy early as Kodsi wheeled around the offensive zone before setting up Jake Johnson to drive at net and dish to David Madsen at the backdoor who tapped home the opening goal just 64 seconds in.

Former Clan forward, Keaton Jameson responded for the Stars at the twelve minute mark after a tangle behind Liam Souliere’s net left the puck free in the right circle for Jameson to scoop up and drag to the slot to snipe a neat equaliser into the top shelf.

Craig Moore came close to putting Dundee in front as he battled at the backdoor to steer a shot through the road block of Johnson but couldn’t direct it on target before the puck fell to Jameson who crashed a first-time shot off the post.

Madsen, Kodsi, and Ross Armour proved to be the main offensive agitators for Glasgow, forcing Carl Stankowski into six really good saves to deny the hosts a second goal in the first period.

Brady Risk caught up to a stretch pass to break out all alone on the Dundee net and charged into the blue paint causing a loose puck to fall into the trapezoid where Rylan Schwartz scooped it up and teed up Mick Messner to send  into the open net.

Deven Sideroff got tangled up with Rasmus Nousiainen later in the second period, and the two dropped the gloves to trade some great hits including some wild swinging lefts from the Finn and a brutal uppercut from the Clan captain in a brilliant tilt.

Messner nearly got his second of the night on a first-time bullet from the slot shortly after but was denied by a quick reflex save down low from Stankowski.

Cade Neilson crashed into the Stars’ net and nearly rammed the puck over the line if not for the post. The emphatic charge into the crease drew ire from Powell Connor who sparked the second fight of the night which ended quickly after some missed swings sent the two down to the ice.

Josh Tarzwell was hit hard by six foot seven, Evan Brand in the offensive zone which sparked Armour to step up for the rookie and go toe-to-toe with the giant defenceman in a short but feisty bout in the corner as the game seemed to turn into an intermittent brawl.

Armour was handed a two plus 10-minute misconduct for instigating the fight with Brand and the Stars capitalised on the resulting powerplay quickly with Sebastian Bengtsson bombing a shot from the blue line for Travis Ewanyk to tip down past Souliere.

A great cross-ice pass from Risk to Schwartz at the tip of the crease set up the #71 for a great spin and backhand finish in-close to put Glasgow back ahead just 16 seconds after the equaliser.

Gary Haden got Dundee back level in the third period as he redirected Powell Connor’s shot from distance past a screened Souliere after less than two minutes of the final frame.

Steven Seigo made a good move through the Stars’ zone to open up space in the slot and zipped a perfect pass onto the tape of Schwartz who bagged his second and Glasgow’s fourth goal in the game.

90 seconds later, Matt Spencer coolly dispatched a low shot through the five-hole of Stankowski to double the Clan’s lead. Kris Inglis found himself in the middle of the resulting celebrations and started to jostle with Kodsi who dropped the gloves for the fourth fight of the night.

Inglis sat a two plus 10-minute misconduct for instigating but Glasgow couldn’t capitalise on the powerplay. On the flip side, Dundee were handed a four-minute powerplay after Matt Spencer was penalised for high sticks and took just three seconds to net their fourth of the night through Rasmus Nousiainen.

Jameson scored on the second powerplay from Spencer’s double minor to tie the game up at five with just five minutes left on the clock, forcing the two points to be settled in overtime.

Armour suffered an unfortunate stick break at the centre ice faceoff in the extra period, which allowed the Stars to break out three-on-two.

Ewanyk played a quick pass across the slot to Jameson who capped off his hattrick with the game winner to grant the visitors their second win of the season.