Dundee Stars 1 - 2 Excel Hull Stingrays
The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight dug deep and found a way to end their seven game losing streak, beating the Dundee Stars 2-1 in Scotland for just their second win of 11/12
Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier led by example, giving the Stingrays - who went down to lowly Edinburgh last night - the lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first period.
Defenceman Dan McGoff struck back for the Stars three minutes into the second, though Jason Silverthorn bagged the crucial game winning goal, shorthanded for the Rays after 38.12.
Rays man of the match, netminder Christian Boucher, was called upon regularly in the third but turned away 13 shots for a 37 save night with his side clinging on to claim a much needed and welcome two points and second win of the season.
The victory is the Stingrays first in four trips to Tayside after Dundee racked up four straight wins at home over the Rays having joined the EIHL in the summer of 2010.
Perhaps more importantly, the win ended Cloutier's sides seven game losing skid, eking out a victory - and a first win on the road in 11/12 - when few gave them any chance.
While the Rays coach will still be wanting to improve a squad that seemingly surrendered to Edinburgh 24 hours earlier, the result is a big morale boost to the existing squad - who were placed on two-weeks notice midway through the loss.
Cloutier - who will sit out the club's next couple of games - has already confirmed that there is a new player - to be announced next week - set to jet in and join the club, hopefully in time for fixtures in Fife and at home to Belfast next weekend, though he has not ruled out making more than one change.
The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight dug deep and found a way to end their seven game losing streak, beating the Dundee Stars 2-1 in Scotland for just their second win of 11/12
Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier led by example, giving the Stingrays - who went down to lowly Edinburgh last night - the lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first period.
Defenceman Dan McGoff struck back for the Stars three minutes into the second, though Jason Silverthorn bagged the crucial game winning goal, shorthanded for the Rays after 38.12.
Rays man of the match, netminder Christian Boucher, was called upon regularly in the third but turned away 13 shots for a 37 save night with his side clinging on to claim a much needed and welcome two points and second win of the season.
The victory is the Stingrays first in four trips to Tayside after Dundee racked up four straight wins at home over the Rays having joined the EIHL in the summer of 2010.
Perhaps more importantly, the win ended Cloutier's sides seven game losing skid, eking out a victory - and a first win on the road in 11/12 - when few gave them any chance.
While the Rays coach will still be wanting to improve a squad that seemingly surrendered to Edinburgh 24 hours earlier, the result is a big morale boost to the existing squad - who were placed on two-weeks notice midway through the loss.
Cloutier - who will sit out the club's next couple of games - has already confirmed that there is a new player - to be announced next week - set to jet in and join the club, hopefully in time for fixtures in Fife and at home to Belfast next weekend, though he has not ruled out making more than one change.
