Nieminen wins it for Stars in OT

Photo: Derek Black

Dundee Stars tied the game late and beat league leaders Nottingham Panthers in overtime on Saturday night.

Nottingham controlled much of the opening period, outshooting the Stars 13 to 6 and forcing Emil Kruse into several high quality saves.

Despite that pressure, it was Dundee who struck first. At 08.58 Spencer Naas fired from the right circle, lifting the puck over Jason Grande’s glove to give the Stars the lead.

“We put a big onus on tonight’s game, getting off the slide, and obviously where they are in the standings we knew it would be a 60 minute game or plus,” said Stars forward Matt Boudens. “I think that is a little confidence builder for us to know we can play with those big teams and have success. It is a nice one to start the weekend but we have to move on come midnight and get ready for tomorrow.”

A tripping call on Boudens midway through period two proved costly as Ross Armour converted the power play in close to tie the game at 28.03.

Tim Doherty put Nottingham in front for the first time at 51.53, finishing from the slot on the power play.

“I thought we were alright, not our best but not our worst,” said Doherty. “It is always good to get a point but it would have been nice for us to close that one out when we were up with five minutes to go.”

Dundee found an answer with 5.12 left. Jackson DeSouza reacted quickest during a scramble in front of the Panthers net and pushed the loose puck past Grande at 54.48 to level the game.

Neither side could find a winner in regulation, sending the game to overtime.

Former Panther Otto Nieminen decided it, breaking away up the ice and lifting the puck over Grande at 61.37 to give the Stars the win.