Clan endured a Jekyll and Hyde weekend after following up a resounding win with a painful loss.
On Saturday night at Braehead Arena Malcolm Cameron’s side swept the floor with Scottish rivals Dundee Stars.
Goals from Mikko Vainonen, Mitch Jones, Braylon Shmyr, Mathieu Roy and Guillaume Gauthier ensured the Clan came away with maximum points in a tasty affair that ended 5-2 in favour of the hosts.
However, the joy was short-lived as just 24 hours later the injury-ravaged Renfrewshire side were thumped 8-2 in England by Guildford Flames.
That game was delayed by 40 minutes due to Clan’s bus being caught in traffic on the M25, but after eventually getting to the Spectrum, the day didn’t really improve.
Flames got the breakthrough as Mike Crocock’s effort from the blue line was diverted in by Ian Watters to put the home side in front.
Guildford doubled their lead when a well-worked move on the powerplay saw Chris Gerrie tee up Levi Cable, who prodded in at Starrett’s left side post and Clan were trailing by two.
The visitors’ best chance came late in the first as Flames’ Alex Yuill sat on a hooking call and despite Colton Yellow Horn setting up Nolan LaPorte, the latter could only put it wide.
Flames added a third in the second period with a quick move that saw Jamal Watson pass down the right to Ian McNulty, who cut inside and despatched an excellent finish.
They were four up in the final minute of the second period when Brett Ferguson played in Gerrie, who made the most of the space to finish from close range as he forced home the puck.
The home side were in no mood to let up as they made it 5-0 within the first five minutes of the third, with another powerplay goal and Ferguson took Cable’s pass and duly finished.
Starrett was replaced by Jordan McLaughlin in the net, but it didn’t prevent Flames from adding to their tally as the game went on.
Number six came from Cable, with his second of the night before Mathieu Roy found the net to deny Flames’ goalie Kevin Lindskoug a shutout.
However Jordan Cownie was on target within a minute later to restore Guildford’s six-goal lead.
McLaughlin and Starrett switched again after Clan’s back-up goalie came off worse in a collision, but the job was long done by Paul Dixon’s side.
Watters made it eight to round things off for Guildford, but Roy’s second – and Clan’s second – was a mere consolation in the end.
The Braehead Arena outfit will be hoping to bounce straight back to winning ways this week when they take on Fife Flyers on Saturday at the Fife Ice Arena.
They then welcome Cardiff Devils to Braehead on Sunday.
