Kyle Gibbons opened his account for bottom club Dundee Stars, who grabbed a play-off lifeline last night by shutting out arch rivals Fife Flyers at the Dundee Ice Arena.
The 23-year-old from Ohio counted in his second game for the Tayside club with less than 14 minutes left of last night’s clash.
Stars’ 3-0 home win over their rivals helped erase the disappointment of Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Coventry Blaze.
Last night Stars shone to snap a four-game losing streak and give their fans something to cheer.
Defenceman James Isaacs broke the deadlock after being set up by Sean Ringrose and skipper Chris Blight after 15 minutes.
And Igor Gongalski added a second 18 minutes later with Isaacs the architect this time.
Newcomer Gibbons, an outstanding college player, made it 3-0 also on the power play in 46 minutes with home-bred John Dolan and Kevin Quick assisting.
The win was achieved despite the loss of defenceman Ryan Grimshaw for 34 minutes for abuse.
On Saturday, goals from Vladimir Nikiforov after 22 minutes and Cale Tanaka after 43 put Dundee 2-1 down to Coventry Blaze but Slovakian marksman Martin Cingel gave the home side hope with a counter on 53 minutes.
Last night’s defeat was a massive blow to Fife, who emerged pointless from their Scottish weekend double-header after being beaten 5-2 in Edinburgh on Saturday.
Rene Jarolin claimed a glory treble as lowly Edinburgh Capitals earned a valuable two points and revenge over sixth-placed Fife Flyers for a narrow home defeat on Hogmanay.
Capitals’ other marksmen were Dennis Rix and skipper Jade Portwood while Bobby Chaumont and Ned Lukacevic netted for Fife.
The visitors where only 2-1 down going into the last period but two goals in six third period minutes ended the contest.
Last night, Edinburgh went behind through former New York Islanders draft pick Ryan O’Marra.
The Tokyo-born player netted after seven minutes but Jarolin levelled after 45 minutes on the power play.
The 33-year-old Slovakian sniper scored the game-winner after three minutes of sudden-death overtime to complete a four-point weekend for the Murrayfield men.
In the West of Scotland, Leigh Salters was the toast of his team-mates as he kept Braehead Clan in pole position in the Elite League.
The 25-year-old left-wing fired home as outshot Clan saw off the challenge of reigning champions Belfast Giants on Saturday before another bumper crowd at Braehead.
His strike after 25 minutes, his 24th goal in 39 league games so far this season, earned the high-flying Glasgow side their second straight win over Belfast at Braehead this term.
Results: Saturday: Braehead Clan 1 Belfast Giants 0; Edinburgh Capitals 5 Fife Flyers 2; Dundee Stars 1 Coventry Blaze 2. Last night: Dundee Stars 3 Fife Flyers 0; Edinburgh Capitals 2 Coventry Blaze 1 (after overtime).