Excel Hull Stingrays 2-1 Cardiff Devils (After penalty shots)
It was clear from the off that this would not be a simple or easy game for Cloutier's team, with the Devils effectively and efficiently playing their speedy, physical brand of hockey under head coach Gerard Adams.
That fast, hard hitting style proved to be an effective tactic defensively as the Devils blueline stood tall in front of Stevie Lyle between the Cardiff pipes.
In fact, the only clear cut chance in a first period which was fairly even came after 13 minutes on the powerplay, as Ukrainian defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk rocketed a shot off the goal post.
While the Stingrays passing had been superior in the first, the Devils had the edge through their physicality and it was clear the Cloutier had stern words for his side, who had failed to generate offence which was capable of breaking through Cardiff's defensive unit.
Likewise, Adams had clearly had some choice words for the Devils as they began the second in better spirits with Martins Raitums tested twice in quick succession. The Latvian keeper denied Ryan Finnerty's first effort only to have the rebound cannon back of the backboards back towards the crease, causing the netminder to dive over the puck to prevent it redirecting into his own goal, with Finnerty one-timing the second chance only to be stonewalled by Raitums.
Stingrays player/assistant coach Curtis Huppe was similarly stonewalled by British keeper Lyle six minutes later. Rookie Matty Davies, who has once again hit form for the Rays, fed a pass behind the back of the Devils defence through to forward Huppe, who broke in and went backhanded on Lyle only to be denied.
With the Devils dishing out the hits, the Stingrays finally began to give them back in second as the game noticeably became more physical. This was particularly evident after a high and late check from Brad Voth on player/coach Cloutier, who went looking for retribution for the missed penalty and was handed a tripping penalty for his worries.
The Welsh side hit a post of their own just two minutes into the third with defenceman Scott Romfo the unlucky party as the Devils continued their trait of beggining the period strongly.
Perhaps the key incident in the game came just a minute later with a check from behind from Devils forward Max Birbraer left Jeff Glowa suffering the possible after effects of his second concussion against Cardiff this season. The evergreen Canadian would not return, with Israeli Birbraer was given two-plus-ten for checking from behind, depriving the Devils of one of their top forwards for a crucial period of the game, particularly with the game goalless.
From the ensuing powerplay the home side opened the scoring. Former Devil Jason Silverthorn feed Lee Mitchell just as he entered the zone with the Scottish forward firing the key first goal of the game low past Lyle.
The teams exchanged giveaway breakaways, with Stephen Burns giving the puck to Mark Smith, only for the Canadian to be rejected by Raitums, before Lee Esders squandered a breakaway of his own to see off the game in the Rays favour.
Then, with less than two minutes on the clock and with the Stingrays on a penalty kill following a dubious call on keeper Raitums, that man Finnerty deflected a Matt Miller slapshot from the point to send the game to overtime and claim at least a point for Cardiff.
The Rays were under the cosh for much of the four-on-four overtime period as they took two penalties, which, despite keeping the puck in the Stingray zone and moving it well, the Devils could not convert on sending the game to penalty shots.
Konstantin Kalmikov and Jason Silverthorn goals, combined with a Raitums save from a Finnerty's stick, handed the Stingrays the extra point and their third win in three games.
Cloutier's side now move on to a fixture against the Coventry Blaze tomorrow night before facing the Belfast Giants in Northern Ireland on Thursday with weekend games in Nottingham and at home to Newcastle in seven days time.
Stingrays Stats
Goalscorers: L.Mitchell
Raitums: 48 shots, 1 goal against
SOG: 37-48
PIM: 12-20
Good
The work ethic from the whole team. Another very decent performance from Raitums. Defensive responsibility from every player.
Bad
The difficulties the Rays had in converting past a typically shaky Stevie Lyle. Max Birbraer's check to Jeff Glowa, which left the Canadian with his second concussion of the season against the Devils. A check to the head from Brad Voth on coach Sylvain Cloutier which referee Hicks missed.
F Block Blog MOM
Stingrays: Martins Raitums (47 saves, 1 goal against) FBB attempted to avoid the old cliche of new player turns immediate hero against Sheffield and just managed to avoid giving Raitums the MOM award in the Rays first ever win in Sheffield, but the Latvian thoroughly deserves the MOM award in this 47 save effort. A number of brilliant saves, including a diving save across his crease after he'd given the puck and an empty net to Matt Miller from the halfway line, as well as saving the crucial final penalty shot without a doubt won the Stingrays the two points.
Cardiff: Ryan Finnerty (1+0) The gritty former Sheffield forward didn't truly come into this game until the second half of the third period, but when he did he sparked the Devils into life. Netting a goal, coming very close to scoring a possible winner and drawing a penalty from Stingrays keeper Raitums, Finnerty very nearly won the tie on his own in the last few minutes for the Welsh side.
Stingrays Verdict: 8/10
A gritty team performance from Sylvain Cloutier's Stingrays when they most needed it to gain their third win on the trot.
This win was not so much about individual performances, although Martins Raitums performance undoubtedly played a huge part, but about the whole team giving their all and fighting for every puck in every situation.
Helped by the performance of Raitums between the pipes, the Rays D cleared rebounds and protected their new keeper as they perhaps failed to do with his predecessor Tommy Sandahl, and when they didn't Raitums was there to help them out.
Up front, the Rays looked blunt, perhaps due to the Devils defensive tactics, or perhaps due to a fantastic effort from the Welsh sides blueline, but nevertheless they found it hard to break through the defensive line and create clear cut chances even handed. The powerplay, however, created offence and the penalty kill was similarly efficient, although both sides failed to convert on the man advantage.
The last minute equaliser could and maybe should have been a killer from the Rays point of view, as should the penalties in overtime which killed any chance of them netting in open play.
However, the Rays fought through it and with a bit of luck and a bit of skill the end result was another deserved two points.
