Ukranian Igor Gongalsky opened his account in Britain as he slotted the game-winner to end Dundee Stars’ disappointing early-season losing streak with a victory over ice hockey rivals Fife in the Challenge Cup Group A.
The 27-year-old left wing from Kiev, who has played for 13 teams in five different leagues, scored with one minute 22 seconds remaining of the extra session.
The goal came as a huge relief to Dundee’s player/coach Jeff Hutchins, who sat out the game through a suspension picked up in Saturday’s 4-2 defeat by Flyers at Kirkcaldy.
Fife went ahead in the 17th minute last night through former Braehead Clan hit-man Bobby Chaumont after he was set up by Chris Auger and Jordan Fulton.
Stars replied through another former Braehead star, Shane Lust, nine minutes later with home-bred defenceman Sam McCluskey supplying the ammunition.
Both sides passed up power play chances in a tight game. Fife had five opportunities and Dundee four.
The deadlock remained until the final whistle and the tense tussle went into overtime. That could still not separate the teams and the game went into sudden death overtime and with just over a minute to go Gongalsky netted to the delight of the home fans at Dundee Ice Arena.
In Saturday’s game, Fulton claimed the game clinching goal in the dying minutes for injury-hit Flyers after a penalty-filled clash at Kirkcaldy.
Flyers, roared on by nearly 2,300 fans, edged Stars 4-2 in a chippy game in which the sides collected 91 penalty minutes.
Dundee’s tally of 50 minutes included 27 minutes for player/coach Hutchins, who was banned for last night’s game after an incident with seven seconds left.
The Elite League’s department of player safety said the cross-check was a dangerous action with no regard for the opposition player’s safety and was reckless and directed at the opposition player’s head.
Fife opened the scoring after six minutes when Auger netted on the power play only for experienced Martin Cingel to level just over a minute later for the visitors.
Scott Fleming put the home side ahead again, also from a power play, after 18 minutes and Chaumont made it 3-1 after nine seconds of the middle session.
Dundee replied through a Lust power play in the final period to make it 3-2.
Fulton’s strike in the 57th minute ended the contest in which Dundee’s netminder Marc Cheverie dealt with 31 shots while his opposite number, Kevin Regan, saved 25.
* New Yorker Greg Collins kept his cool to slot Edinburgh Capitals’ game-winning penalty shot to beat Cardiff Devils 3-2 after overtime last night.
* In the Scottish National League’s Autumn Cup, Dundee Tigers maintained their unbeaten run when they twice came from behind to draw 4-4 with city rivals Dundee Comets.
Daniel Topping netted the leveller with three minutes left in his first game against his former team-mates after switching clubs in the close season.
Tigers were 2-0 down but bounced back to level at 2-2 before edging 3-2 ahead only three minutes into the third period.
Comets refused to buckle and levelled before going ahead 4-3 in an exciting but towsy encounter which saw 125 penalty minutes collected by both sides.
Topping’s late leveller keeps Tigers on course for the later stages and player/coach Ian Carstairs said: “I’m really happy with the battling performance. It was a character result.”