Hard work earns much needed four point weekend for Fife Flyers

A hard-working performance from Fife Flyers at Dundee Ice Arena secured a much-needed four-point weekend for Todd Dutiaume and his men.

The Kirkcaldy side followed last night's 3-2 home win over Dundee Stars with another character performance as they twice came from behind to inflict a second defeat in a row over their close rivals.

After confirmation from Dutiaume during the week that four successive defeats had led him into holding talks with potential replacements, the Fifers were not only playing for points, they were skating for their jobs.

And while two big conference wins will go a long way towards easing some pressure, the performances levels must remain consistent or questions will remain.

An entertaining game saw the lead change hands four times and the outcome was in the balance until the last few minutes when Flyers ran away with it in a strong finish to the third period.

After falling behind to a Kevin Hart powerplay goal after 6.31, the visitors shrugged off the loss of defenceman David Turon to a 2+10 for checking to the head to hit back with two quick replies.

Phil Paquet stepped onto a loose puck during a four-on-four to drill home a one-timer on 14.06 for the equaliser before Sebastian Thinel struck on the powerplay just over a minute later.

He seemed to have lost his chance at the back post after failing to control the puck, but Dundee's failure to clear presented him with a second bite, and this time he took full advantage.

It was Dundee's turn to turn the deficit around as Mikael Lidhammer equalised on 28.05, pouncing on a rebound after Brett Switzer struck the post, before Matt White put the hosts 3-2 ahead on 30.24 after Shane Owen unknowingly spilled a puck into his crease.

Fife heads refused to drop, and Ryan Dingle drew them level a minute later, latching onto Thinel's pass to the back post to fire home for 3-3.

Flyers regained the lead on 38.34 as a Dundee defenceman lost his helmet during the play and had to skate immediately to the bench.

Chase Schaber took advantage of the space vacated in front of the net to end his scoring drought, forcing it home from close range.

Despite the topsy-turvy scoring, Fife had the edge throughout the game and they finally earned some breathing space early in period three as intense pressure around the Stars net ended with Matt Sisca forcing the puck over the line for a 5-3 lead.

That lasted little more than a minute as Flyers coughed up the puck in their own and Vinny Scarsella made them pay, firing high past Shane Owen to bring Dundee back to within a goal.

Dundee applied some pressure but Flyers held firm, and they were spared a nervy finish in the closing stages as Stars lost two men to the sin bin allowing Flyers a five-on-three powerplay, during which Kyle Haines sealed the win with a glorious finish from the point on 58.58.

There was still time for Justin Fox to add the icing to the cake with a fine solo effort with 20 seconds remaining as Dundee abandoned their defensive duties.