Tigers make Capitals Gain

The Dundee Tigers recorded an impressive win over the Edinburgh Capitals in Dundee on Sunday night, running out 3-0 victors against last year's SNL runners-up.

The hosts seemed to dominate the play in the opening period, but despite controlling possession could not find the finishing touch. The all too common penalty woes that have plagued the Tigers in recent seasons reared their head again as the home team were forced to kill off 8 minutes of penalties in the period, including a short spell of 5 on 3 pressure, but the team dealt with this adversity with ease to see out the session scoreless.

The Capitals came out in the second period with a renewed vigour and put early pressure on the Tigers net. Mark McGill was equal to the challenge though pulling off a string of fine saves to maintain parity. It wasn't long though before the Tigers took a well-deserved lead as Ross Bree blasted a slapshot past Craig Mallinson in the Capitals net in the 25th minute. Tigers soon found themselves on the wrong end of the referee's whistle again as first Graeme Carstairs then Robbie Barnett were assessed minor penalties before the mid-way point of the stanza. The hosts again absorbed the pressure of Capitals extra man well to kill off the penalties without issue. As the period came to a close, Daniel Topping's vigorous attempt to thwart a breakaway earned him a match penalty and the Capitals a 5 minute powerplay opportunity that would extend in to the 3rd session.

The Tigers started the closing 20 minutes with a man down, but a combination of selfless defending and acrobatic netminding kept the hosts in front. In the 45th minute Ross Bree grabbed his 2nd of the night after firing home off his own rebound to double the Tigers lead. The Capitals continued to press but McGill stood strong in the home net and Tigers new boy Callum Turnbull notched his first goal in Tigers colours with less than 2 minutes remaining as he calmly slotted home off the backhand after rounding the stranded Edinburgh keeper.

A Tigers spokesman said of the match, “This was a really tough game to prepare for. The Capitals are typically a fast, puck moving team and can pose a danger from anywhere on the ice. Both team were short benched tonight though and it really just came down to who wanted it more. We didn’t play our best but there were a couple of standout performances from Mark McGill and Ross Bree who did the business at both ends of the rink. It was great to see Callum Turnbull get his first of what we expect to be many goals for the team too. When we played 5 on 5 the Capitals couldn’t compete with us but we continue to take penalties, which could cause us problems if we can’t get it under control in other games.”