GAME REPORT: Connolly star of the show, as Clan defeat Dundee
NEXT HOME GAME: School is out! Hockey is on! The Dundee Stars come to Braehead Arena THIS TUESDAY (7:30pm face-off). Tickets are available NOW via TICKETMASTER or by calling 0844 499 1700.
Brendan Connolly’s penalty shots winner secured a valuable two points on the road as Glasgow Clan edged Dundee Stars 3-2.
With both sides due to meet on Tuesday in a vital Challenge Cup tie, there was an opportunity for either team to gain a psychological edge.
But Clan didn’t have it their own way as Stars, keen to break a five-game losing run, had their own ideas.
Matt Beca and Marquardt hit the post for either team in the early stages and Jack Musil saw his close range chance stopped by Pontus Sjögren in the home goal.
The opener finally came five minutes into the second period when a scramble in front of the Dundee goal saw the puck scrambled over the line by Brendan Connolly on the powerplay.
The marker seemed to spark Dundee to life as they hit back on their visitors with two relatively quick goals.
Johan Andersson netted from a close position to regain parity for the home side to delight the Stars fans.
Then Fabricio Ricci struck a shot that left Clan goalie Joel Rumpel beaten and suddenly, Glasgow’s lead had evaporated.
They didn’t lose faith as the game moved into the third stanza and it took just over a minute for Pete Russell’s side to hit back.
Matt Beca’s wraparound was denied as Dundee closed ranks, but Connolly was in the right place to tuck away the rebound to make it 2-2.
Clan had to dip into their energy reserves in overtime, with no winner being found in the regulation 60 and it seemed destined the extra period wouldn’t separate them either.
A spectacular double save from Rumpel denied both Marquardt and Drydn Dow, while Vaclav Stupka saw his one-on-one denied by the outside of Sjögren’s right hand post.
In the end, it went all the way to penalty shots as Brian Hart, Lukas Lundvald and Marquardt all failed to score for Stars, but Clan took the glory thanks to success from Scott Pitt, Rasmus Bjerrum and Connolly to wrap things up.
