The MKM Dundee Stars scored four unanswered goals in the third period against the Cardiff Devils to secure a massive 5-4 win on home ice.
Dundee began the opening frame strong, applying heavy pressure to a tired Devils team who, less than 24 hours earlier, suffered a 3-2 defeat in Glasgow.
Despite the Stars’ early push, Cardiff struck first. Cole Sanford opened the scoring at 15:48, finishing off a three-on-two rush with a shot in close over the blocker of Emil Kruse.
The first powerplay of the game went the way of the visitors after Stars captain Drydn Dow was called for interference, which the Devils converted on at 22:30. Kruse made an initial save on a shot from the right circle, however Kristoff Kontos was first to the rebound and fired it into the Stars net to make it 2-0.
Josh MacDonald made it 3-0 less than thirty seconds later at 22:56, breaking in alone and sliding a backhand past Kruse.
Fresh off of representing Team GB internationally, Jonathan McBean pulled a goal back to make it 3-1 at 24:35. Matt Boudens’ wraparound attempt was stopped by Christian Stoever, but McBean was quick to the loose puck and tucked it past the sprawling Devils netminder to make it 3-1.
Kohen Olischefski restored Cardiff’s three-goal lead late in the period, capitalising on a fortunate bounce and sending a slapshot past Kruse at 38:38 to make it 4-1.
Spencer Naas cut the deficit in half less than a minute into the third period, sliding the puck under the pads of Stoever at 40:41.
A misplay behind the Cardiff net by Christian Stoever gifted the puck to Matt Berry, who wrapped it into the empty net at 51:50 to make it 4-3.
A slashing penalty to Gleason Fournier then proved costly for the Devils, as Berry struck again to level the game at 53:59. Quick puck movement in the offensive zone saw Hampus Olsson fire the puck toward the net, where Berry was perfectly positioned to redirect it past Stoever.
Berry completed the hat trick just seventy-five seconds later, giving the Stars their first lead of the night at 55:14. Displaying a high level of skill in close, Berry collected the puck beside the Cardiff net, pulled off a nifty move to evade a Devils’ defender, and lifted a backhand past Stoever to make it 5-4.
A late timeout and pulling Stoever for the extra attacker proved insufficient for the visitors, as the Stars held firm to secure a massive two points on home ice.
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