Challenge: Dundee Stars 3, Edinburgh Capitals 2
Dundee Stars earned revenge over Scottish rivals Edinburgh Capitals last but they were made to work for the welcome win.
Omar Pacha’s team, who were beaten 3-2 after penalty shots in the first challenge clash at Murrayfield on Sunday, were always in front at Dundee Ice Arena in the return.
They led 1-0 and then were pegged back to 1-1 by the end of the first session.
Stars went 2-1 ahead and then opened up a two-goal advantage at 3-1 by the end of the second period over Dmitri Khristich’s squad.
Determined Capitals battled back into the game and scored with less than five minutes left through Sergei Banashkov.
Then the visitors claimed they had levelled with three seconds left but the officials were quick to rule it out.
Capitals, however, will be pleased with the performance of one of their newest signings.
Marek Tvrdon slotted into the line-up for the first time and the 24-year-old forward from Slovakia, who was drafted by National Hockey League sides, Detroit Red Wings, in 2011, scored Capitals first goal.
He assisted in the second having joined from HK Nitra in the Slovak Extraliga and the competitive match-up will have boosted both sides ahead of this weekend’s inaugural Scottish Elite Cup at Murrayfield.
Stars face Fife Flyers in one semi-final (2pm) on Saturday while Capitals square-up to Braehead Clan (5.30pm). Tickets are still available.
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