In a less than vintage performance the Excel Hull Stingrays tonight squeaked past a hard-working Dundee Stars side in a shootout thanks to penalty shots from Jereme Tendler and Andrew Coburn after Tendler's second period goal had earlier levelled John Dolan and the Stars opener.
Without Aivars Gaisins (shoulder), Lee Mitchell (knee) and later Matty Davies, the Stingrays came out flat-footed in comparison to an energised Stars line-up, surprising given they had travelled the 200 odd miles to Hull Arena, and despite both sides largely failing to impress going forward in a fairly dull first period it was the Stars who would opened the scoring.
Having beating Stingrays defenceman Kurtis Dulle to a puck on his own blueline Stars grinder A J Maclean raced in on netminder Christian Boucher two-on-one before setting up Scot John Dolan at the backdoor to open the scoring on 12.15.
Neither side looked dangerous on the powerplay in opening stanza, but in one of the few highlights of the second period Jereme Tendler bagged his 28th goal of the year, one timing the puck home past former Stingrays keeper Ladislav Kurdna from his familiar back post spot on the powerplay.
After a flat, uninspiring opening from the home side they finally got their game together in the third firing 11 shots on Kurdna in an end-to-end period however, other than a sublime double deke from Jason Silverthorn, who eventually couldn't quite squeeze the puck across the line after taking on three Stars, the Czech netminder was rarely stretched beyond his means and the game carried over into overtime at one-a-piece.
With both sides battling for the extra point and the all important victory, it was the Rays who came out strongly, seemingly having turned a corner at the beginning of the third. Nevertheless, despite penning the Stars in their own zone for much of the extra period, firing seven shots on Kurdna, they couldn't force the winner, which would now be decided by penalty shots.
Dan Ceman's side started well in the shootout, Brent Hughes pulling Boucher perfectly out of position to backhand the puck in , however, Tendler's unfashionable five hole finish, which trickled home, and Ceman's miss, gave Coburn, who is now very much the in form Stingray, the chance to put his side in the driving seat.
A beautiful, clutch finish by the Canadian rookie gave keeper Boucher the chance to round off the game with a save on Jay Latulippe, which he duly did, giving the Rays a win which puts them just four points behind Braehead with four games in hand.
On Sunday the Stingrays face a depleted Edinburgh Capitals side that has seen the majority of its imports depart in the last month. Slovakian captain Martin Cingel, rookie Nick Fanto and Elite League veteran Jeff Hutchins is all that remains of the cash strapped import line up but nevertheless, with a roster stacked with British youngsters willing to make their mark on the EIHL, the Stingrays needn't take them lightly, particularly as they are struggling for goals at present having scored just six in their last four games.
Rays Rating
5.5
FBB Three Stars
1- Andrew Coburn (0+0)
2- Christian Boucher (33 shots, 1 goal against)
