The Flyers opening home game of the season saw a return match up against Tayside rivals Dundee Stars. The Flyers gave a first start to Christian Purboo and welcomed the return to the lineup of Didrik Svendsen for his first start. The visitors were unchanged although they gave the start in net to Jarrett Fiske.
The Flyers were immediately on the front foot as they created a scramble around the Stars net in the opening seconds. There was a good pace to the game in the early stages and for the first 8 minutes both teams traded rushes, threw some big hits but neither goalie was seriously troubled. Purboo made the first save of note in the game in the 9th minute when he got his paddle to a snap shot by Keanu Yamomoto. A minute later and Ethan Somoza teed up a chance for Vlastimil Dostalek in the high slot but he drifted his shot wide of the net. Fiske was looking sharp in the visitors net as he stood tall to deny Josh Winquist and Justin Ducharme. Keaton Jameson won the race for a loose puck in the 13th minute and Griffin Luce was forced to hook him to send the Flyers on the first power play of the night. The Stars found themselves down two men for 40 seconds as Benjamin Almquist took a slashing penalty but the Stars managed to return to full strength without the Flyers getting a direct shot on net. Purboo made a sterling save on Kameron Kielly who tried to beat him up high but he made a shoulder save. Moments later the Flyers broke the deadlock as Jonas Emmerdahl from the circles picked the top corner glove side on Fiske. The Stars had the final chance of the period when Jonathan McBean fired wildly over the bar after finding himself with plenty of time and space in the slot.
The Flyers took the game to the Stars in the opening minutes of the second period and Winquist and Johan Porsberger both tested Fiske. The Stars went on their first powerplay in the 23rd minute with Jameson getting the gate for tripping but the Flyers produced a strong kill to return to full strength without giving up a shot on Purboo. Jackson Desouza was next in the box on a hooking call but the Flyers couldn’t get anything set up and as the penalty was winding down Emmerdahl was called for interference. With Stars returning to full strength and on the power play Ian Scheid took the puck coast to coast with a shorthanded bid with Fiske having to make a save before Purboo came up with a big pad save to deny Bradley Schoonbaert as the Flyers completed the kill. The Flyers were in penalty trouble as both Winquist and Garet Hunt were called 20 seconds apart for slashing infractions. The Stars with a long two man advantage found Purboo in fine form as he made a handful of fine stops and as Hunt stepped back on the ice at even strength he had a breakaway on Fiske but the puck bobbled as he got his shot away that sailed over the bar. The final save of the period came from Purboo who got the cuff of his glove on a McBean shot.
The Flyers doubled their lead at 43:30 with Didrik Svendsen finding the net glove side on Fiske with a spinorama move after being fed the puck by Winquist. The Flyers had the man advantage again in the 47th minute as Fiske was assessed a delay of game penalty for dislodging the nets. Fiske stopped a Winquist one timer and with 40 seconds remaining in the power play it became a two man advantage as Matthew Boudens tripped Scheid as he came out from behind the Flyers goal. The Stars held firm however with the Flyers not getting any clear looks. The Flyers then had to kill a penalty in the final 5 minutes as Dostalek was called for a high stick and the visitors took advantage to reduce the arrears. Purboo made the initial save on Matt Berry but could do nothing to stop Otto Nieminen knocking home the rebound. With 100 seconds on the clock the Stars pulled Fiske for the extra skater and Purboo flashed the leather to stop Drydn Dow. Stars called a timeout and on the restart laid siege to the Flyers net. With 5 seconds remaining an attempted clear was kept in out at the blueline by Dow who fired the puck on net and Hampus Olsson was all alone at the top of the crease to tip the puck high into the net and send the contest into overtime.
Purboo denied Berry and Scheid dipsy doodled his way to the Stars net but couldn’t quite get his shot away. In the final minute the Stars survived an almighty scramble around their net with Fiske swimming around but the Flyers trying to find the perfect shot couldn’t get the puck on net and so we went to a penalty shootout.
Dostalek, Ryan Nicholson, Winquist and Porsberger all failed to find the twine as did Yamomoto and Nieminen but Kielly and Dow both netted to give the visitors their come from behind win.
Pic Credits – Jillian McFarlane and Derek Young
Fife Flyers are next at home on Sunday 14th September when they entertain the Belfast Giants – tickets can be bought online here: Tickets – Fife Flyers or look out on social media channels for box office opening times.
