Ice hockey – Dundee’s play-off dream ended by Devils

Elite League: play-off, semi-final: Cardiff Devils 4, Dundee Stars 2; Sheffield Steelers 2, Belfast Giants 0 (at Nottingham)

DUNDEE Stars gave Grand Slam-chasing Cardiff Devils a real fright before going down in their biggest game of the season.

The Tayside underdogs, coached by former Edinburgh Capitals’ star Marc Lefebvre, led the Welsh side 2-0 after 18 minutes but then the newly-crowned Elite League champions upped a gear.

They blasted four unanswered goals past Joe Fallon in the Dundee net for a 4-2 victory and they meet Sheffield Steelers in the final also at Nottingham.

Earlier, Kevin Hart fired Dundee ahead in 12 minutes with assists from Vinny Scarsella and Justin Faryna.

The same pair set up Brett Switzer for a second goal after 18 minutes and Dundee held Devils scoreless until the 26th minute.

Joey Haddad broke through then but Dundee kept the scoreline to 2-1 at the end of the middle session.

The leveller came from Mark Louis after 43 minutes and the go-ahead strike followed from Joey Martin eight minutes after that.

Dundee coach Marc Lefebvre gambled late on, withdrawing netminder Fallon to give him six skaters, but Andrew Hotham scored an unassisted empty net goal with ten seconds left to seal the win.