Braehead Clan 6 Dundee Stars 0

Clan may have started the season a few weeks behind the rest of the Elite League teams but they certainly hit the ground running with an impressive blanking of Stars in front of over 2,500 at Braehead Arena in a game that gave them points in both league and Challenge Cup.

A debut shutout by Jaakko Suomalainen paved the way as the Finn posted 33 saves, while at the other end new Clan skipper Jordan Krestanovich led by example with a double strike.

A fairly even start was snapped into life as Clan took the lead at 8.40 with young Brit Vince Connon skating through to score. The home lead was then doubled as Krestanovich scored his first of the night at 16.58.

Stars were very much back in the game in the second period but despite having much more of the possession they found Suomalainen and his defence working hard to keep them out and the scoreline remained unchanged.

With Clan still short of match fitness it was expected that Stars would finish strongly  – but that was far from the case as the home side gained their second wind to completely dominate the period, winning it by 4-0. Stars back was effectively broken when Krestanovich scored shorthanded at 45.24 and then 52 seconds later James Jorgensen fired home number four.

Adam Walker scored Clan’s fifth from a tight angle at 50.57 and the scoring was completed by a second shorthanded strike of the night as Ryan Campbell finished of a fine break out at 51.45.

Period Scores: 2-0, 0-0, 4-0
Penalty Mins: Bra 16 – Dun 8
Powerplay: Bra 0/3 – Dun0/7
Shots On: Jaakko Suomalainen 33 – Chris Whitley 31 / Mark McGill 5

Referee: Moray Hanson