REPORT: Clan bounce back at Stars

Glasgow Clan sponsored by Aspray Glasgow West ended the week in the play-off places after defeating Dundee Stars 5-3 to jump over them into eighth spot.

With the strong words of head coach Malcolm Cameron no doubt still ringing in their ears after the disappointing 5-2 loss to Nottingham Panthers on Friday, the team needed a reaction.

While the early exchanges showed signs of promise for the visitors, it was the Stars who took the lead after six minutes.

As Rodney Southam sat for interference, Dundee took advantage when Sebastien Bengtsson’s pass found Connor Sills, who swept it home for the opening goal.

Clan didn’t take too long to respond as they had the extra man when the play moved in from the right, where Mathieu Roy tried to bury from close range.

Stars goalie Adam Morrison made the necessary block, but could do nothing as Nolan LaPorte finished off the rebound.

Within a couple of minutes later, Colton Yellow Horn brought the puck in from the right and sent his shot into the lead to give Clan the lead.

The home side levelled up as Dillon Lawrence played provider with the assist, chasing a lost cause and feeding to back to Timi Lahtinen, who executed a well-hit finish.

Glasgow made it 3-2 in the second period as a Mitch Jones shot from the top of the face off circle, got a slight nick from Roy on its way in.

Then Jones’ excellent pass picked out Yellow Horn through on goal and he picked up his fourth goal of the season with a low finish past Morrison.

Dundee applied some late pressure at the end of the second to try and narrow the gap, but Clan did their job in defence to keep them at bay.

They did get the third goal to halve the deficit when Bengtsson’s shot from the inside right came off Starrett, with Sills on the door step to bundle it into the net.

Gabriel Desjardins was impeded seconds after the restart as he had a clear route to goal, with a penalty shot awarded for the Stars.

Shane Starrett stood up to Desjardins’ effort to preserve the slender lead and Clan lived to fight on for the reminder of the third period.

They managed to get the fifth goal they needed when another pinpoint pass from LaPorte, found Roy charging through the middle and he lifted it nicely over Morrison to restore the two-goal lead.

Stars went for it in the final couple of minutes, but Glasgow came out on top with two massive points and a victory to saviour for the journey home.