Tigers Calm Storm
The Dundee Tigers got 2017 off to a winning start with a battling 5-1 victory over the Kilmarnock Storm on Saturday night.
It was a threadbare Tigers team that took to the ice with a number of players sidelined with ongoing injuries and others unavailable, but the spirit was high on the home bench. That sprit was apparent early in the game as the host got off to an ideal start when Scott Marr finished off a beautiful tic-tac-toe move with Grant Reekie and Paul Guilcher with less than 3 minute on the clock. The Tigers dominated much of the action in the opening session but some impressive goaltending from the Storm Netminder, Scott Blacknell, thwarted all attacks. As the period closed the Storm pulled level through Craig MacKenzie who took advantage of a defensive effort to break free and slot home with less than a minute to play.
Tigers started strongly once again in the second session and had restored their advantage just 2 minutes in through a composed Paul Guilcher marker. As the Storm increased their efforts the game opened up and some entertaining end to end action ensued. Tigers task got more difficult as Mark McLeod was assessed a contentious 5+Game penalty for spearing just after the midway point in the game, resulting in a 5 minute penalty kill and an already depleted squad getting even more stretched. Tigers class shone with the man disadvantage and the Storm were unable to break through the home defensive unit. Shortly after returning to full strength the Tigers increased doubled their lead through Grant Reekie who shot home beyond a diving Blackwell to finish the periods scoring.
The hosts looked comfortable as the 3rd period got underway despite a change in tactics from the Storm who looked to stretch the Tigers defensive corps. An early powerplay for the Tigers saw a lot of good work but that was matched by the heroics of Blackwell in the visitors net. Another powerplay in the 52nd minute was more successful as Grant Reekie was on Target again, forcing home Tigers 4th forcing a Storm timeout as they searched for a way back in to the match. The visitors adjustments were fruitless however as just 2 minutes later Callum Turnbull put a home victory beyond doubt as he slotted home off a feed from Guilcher to make it 5 on the night and conclude the scoring in the game.
A Tigers spokesman said “We knew that we couldn’t take this game lightly but with the short bench we couldn’t be as assertive as we would have liked. We played a smart game and in the end came out with a good victory. The Storm made it tough on us though and their physicality will probably win them games this season, especially when they play at home.
We’ve got a pair of massive Scottish Cup games coming up in a fortnight and our focus now turns to those. Hopefully we’ll have a few bodies back for those matches and we can put in the type of performance we’re capable of as we look to progress”
Final Score: Tigers 5 – Storm 1
