A Flames 2 goal lead vanished early in the 3rd period to force overtime then penalties, but Brett Ferguson had the only tiebreaker across 10 shots between the sides to ensure Spectrum’s men would still take the win; edging the visiting Dundee Stars 4-3.
After a scoreless opening frame, Turner Ripplinger put Flames ahead seconds into the middle set. Ryan Valentini replied in the 27th minute to level it at a goal each, but during a mid game 5 on 3 powerplay, Ferguson put Flames back in a slim lead and a late Bradley Lalonde strike had the home team up a pair to start the 3rd.
A pair of early 3rd period Stars goals less than 2 minutes apart from Tommy Parrottino and Valentini had the game all square at 3 each before the 4th period and Ferguson’s tiebreaker winner.
Taz Burman made 20 saves on 23 shots while Kevin Carr was 26 for 29.
“When you get a lead like we had at the end of the 2nd, it is a bit disappointing to cough it up and end up in overtime,” said Paul Dixon.
“The good thing is we didn’t fold our tents and just kept at it and eventually were rewarded with a penalty win which has not often gone our way this season.”
“It’s a win that counts the same for us if we had held the lead so we will take it and hope we can follow it up tomorrow night against Fife.”
