Sharks Bite Tigers with Late Goal

Solway Sharks 3 - Dundee Tigers 2

The Tigers travelled the long road south on Sunday night to face the Solway Sharks is their SNL season opener. The Tigers looked like they'd shaken off their bus legs as they controlled the early but a series of questionable penalties killed the momentum as the visitors saw out out 6 minutes of short handed play in a goalless first stanza.

The Sharks looked sharp as the 2nd period got underway and Tigers keeper Ciaran Hoggan was called in to action early. As the period settled both teams found their flow and Tigers were thwarted as Johnston made an outstanding, acrobatic save to deny Robbie Barnett for taking the lead. With 33 minutes gone Michael Brunton opened the scoring as he fired home a loose puck from a tight angle past a transitioning Hoggan. Shortly after Hoggan was replaced by Robbie Balfour in the Tigers net as youngster suffered an injury preventing him from continuing. The substitute faced just 2 shots in the remaining 6 minutes of the period as the Tigers pressed to restore parity but the visitors were destined to head in to the break one goal to the bad.

The 3rd period got underway with a bang as Ian Carstairs intercepted a stretch pass played by a Sharks defenceman, which was pounced on by Paul Guilcher who launched the puck into the top corner inside the opening minute. Both teams created chances as the period progressed but it was the Tigers who broke the deadlock on a rare powerplay as Kris Phillips picked up his own rebound and slotted home with just 6 minutes to play. As the clock ticked down the hosts called a timeout and their regrouping worked as they drew even as Scott Henderson sneaked the puck home with a low shot from the slot in the 58th minute. With a draw looking inevitable the Tigers found themselves facing a 3 on 1 breakaway in the dying seconds. The Sharks Gordon Horne took the killer bite as he found the inside of the post to win the game, and the 2 points, with 59:59 showing on the clock.

Tigers must now regroup and prepare for the visit of Paisley Pirates to DI A next Sunday (27/9/15 - f/o 6:30pm)

Tigers mom - Paul Guilcher