The Kitmart Dundee Stars take on Guildford Flames for the first time this season aiming to build on their encouraging start.
Their last result was a 3-2 overtime defeat to Elite League title holders Cardiff Devils in midweek, where Dundee came back from 2-0 down to steal a point from the Welsh side. They face a double header with the Flames, first in Surrey tonight, before returning to Dundee tomorrow.
While Stars were picking up four points from four games last weekend, the Flames were beaten 3-2 by Nottingham Panthers in the league after losing their fourth Challenge Cup tie by a score of 5-2 at the hands of the Devils.
This left Guildford seventh in league with four points from four games, while Stars moved into fifth. They sit on six points after six games played.
Ex-Stars goalie Travis Fullerton is now one of three netminders at Guildford and in his only Elite League start of the season, recorded a shutout against the Glasgow Clan.
There are a few injury concerns for Dundee, while the Flames did not dress Brett Ferguson and goaltender Mike Will last weekend.
Head Coach Omar Pacha expects a “good challenge” from the Surrey side this weekend.
He said: “It is going to be a good challenge to go to Guildford and it is a long trip.
“Guildford play a fast-paced skill type of hockey, so it will be a different team to what we have faced all season.
“I think they are a lot faster than most teams, maybe at the same speed as Cardiff, but maybe a bit smaller and a bit more technical, so they are going to be a really different challenge.”
Pacha added: “The players are doing as well as I thought they would, they are doing really good considering the schedule and the travel.
“We are trying to manage as much rest as possible.
“Obviously losing (Matt) Marquardt on Wednesday and Petr Chaloupka then obviously not having (Matt) Bissonnette in the line-up, it is really important to get fresh legs ready for the weekend.”
Guildford were a team Stars struggled against last year and Pacha wants to see his side continue their good away form.
He said: “We just want to compete hard, especially against Guildford on the road. It is a tough place to play.
“We want to make sure we continue the good road form we have had. We have had great road games so far and I feel we are in every single road game.
“It is just about trying to find our scoring touch and playing the same way defensively.
“They are an offensive team, so it is really important to be steady defensively and try to keep our powerplay rolling.
“Our powerplay unit scored two goals on Wednesday, so offensively we need to try to create more chances and score more goals.”
Face-off for tonight’s fixture is at 6pm before a 5pm start in Dundee tomorrow.
