Hull Stingrays 6-4 Braehead Clan
The Hull Stingrays tonight defeated Gardiner Conference rivals the Braehead Clan by six goals to four at Hull Arena to complete a three point weekend.
Following the narrow shootout loss to the Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy last night, the Stingrays were hoping to bounce back in a positive fashion in what was the second installment of a five game run against conference rivals.
They got off to a perfect - if somewhat fortuitous - start as Tom Squires goal bound wrist shot from just south of the top of the circle found its way past Garrett Zemlak in the Clan goal to give the home side a lead after just 11 seconds.
The Rays enjoyed just those 11 seconds of dominance before the Scottish side came to the fore and took control of the fixture. Though the visitors had the majority of the possession and a number of chances following the games opening goal, their pressure didn't pay until the 12th minute when a Davide Nicoletti wristshot beat Ben Bowns.
They followed that up with another goal just 35 seconds later as Jade Galbraith from behind the goal set up Brock McPherson who fired home a one-timer for a 2-1 Clan lead.
A blatant holding penalty on Sam Zajac then gave the Stingrays a golden opportunity to level against the run of play heading into the first intermission. The Rays have typically struggled on the powerplay this season but, on this occasion, came up big as a Janis Ozolins chance from close in was kicked away by Zemlak only for player-coach Cloutier to follow up for his fifth of the season.
Though the game-tying goal had come against the grain and with less than a minute remaining in the period, the Rays had a chance to take an unlikely lead heading into the second period as a three-on-two was passed from Silverthorn to Ozolins and then, again, Cloutier - who was this time denied by the Clans under-fire stopper.
Despite a somewhat shaky first period, the home side dominated the exchanges in the middle stanza - outshooting their opponents 13-7.
Four minutes in Dominic Osman continued his brilliant run of form to clinically finish off a three-on-two, crafted by Matty Davies' speed, at the backpost and give the Rays a 3-2 lead with his 14th of the season. Nevertheless, the Clan quickly rebounded, equalising less than two minutes later as a Nicoletti point shot received the deftest of deflections to fly home high past Bowns.
Having created Osman's goal, Stingrays centre Davies was then given a two-plus-ten for a soft check from behind on the Clan's goalscorer Galbraith - only for the Rays to kill off the penalty with a surprisingly aggressive and effective defence.
Crucially, that penalty kill gave the Stingrays momentum going forward, and they once again took the lead just over 40 seconds later - Kurtis Dulle finding the twine behind Zemlak from the blueline for a 4-3 lead.
The contest was far from over heading into the final 20 but it was the home side that carried over their ever-improving form from the second period with Ozolins - who was again a threat whenever he was given the puck and who ended the night with four assists - going close.
The Latvians chance from close in on Clan keeper Zemlak inadvertently dislodged the blade from the Canadians left skate leaving him unable to take his place between the pipes. He was replaced by back-up Michael Will - who took home the two points for the Clan on his last visit to Hull.
Unfortunately for Braehead and their chances in the fixture, Will's first move was to drop a clanger, fumbling a speculative wristshot from Squires before losing track of the nearby rebound to allow Jason Silverthorn to prod home into an empty net behind a disorientated Will for crucial 5-3 lead.
The game still was not won though and the Clan - who attacked with purpose and vigor throughout the night -immediately replied through British forward Adam Walker to again narrow the gap to one.
With his skate fixed, Zemlak then returned to the pipes to complete an wholly unsuccessful outing for Will - who posted one save on two shots - only for the Clan number one to take, what would turn out to be, a costly slashing penalty after lashing out at a Rays forward.
Stingrays captain Dulle then completed the victory and the three point weekend on the ensuing powerplay with an awkward wristshot which may or may not have taken a deflection on its way past Zemlak.
The victory levelled up the Stingrays-Clan series at 1-1 with the two sides set to meet again at the Hull Arena on Thursday and in Glasgow on Saturday. Cloutier's side will then complete an important five game run against Gardiner Conference sides with a fixture at Murrayfield against the Edinburgh Capitals.
The Hull Stingrays tonight defeated Gardiner Conference rivals the Braehead Clan by six goals to four at Hull Arena to complete a three point weekend.
Following the narrow shootout loss to the Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy last night, the Stingrays were hoping to bounce back in a positive fashion in what was the second installment of a five game run against conference rivals.
They got off to a perfect - if somewhat fortuitous - start as Tom Squires goal bound wrist shot from just south of the top of the circle found its way past Garrett Zemlak in the Clan goal to give the home side a lead after just 11 seconds.
The Rays enjoyed just those 11 seconds of dominance before the Scottish side came to the fore and took control of the fixture. Though the visitors had the majority of the possession and a number of chances following the games opening goal, their pressure didn't pay until the 12th minute when a Davide Nicoletti wristshot beat Ben Bowns.
They followed that up with another goal just 35 seconds later as Jade Galbraith from behind the goal set up Brock McPherson who fired home a one-timer for a 2-1 Clan lead.
A blatant holding penalty on Sam Zajac then gave the Stingrays a golden opportunity to level against the run of play heading into the first intermission. The Rays have typically struggled on the powerplay this season but, on this occasion, came up big as a Janis Ozolins chance from close in was kicked away by Zemlak only for player-coach Cloutier to follow up for his fifth of the season.
Though the game-tying goal had come against the grain and with less than a minute remaining in the period, the Rays had a chance to take an unlikely lead heading into the second period as a three-on-two was passed from Silverthorn to Ozolins and then, again, Cloutier - who was this time denied by the Clans under-fire stopper.
Despite a somewhat shaky first period, the home side dominated the exchanges in the middle stanza - outshooting their opponents 13-7.
Four minutes in Dominic Osman continued his brilliant run of form to clinically finish off a three-on-two, crafted by Matty Davies' speed, at the backpost and give the Rays a 3-2 lead with his 14th of the season. Nevertheless, the Clan quickly rebounded, equalising less than two minutes later as a Nicoletti point shot received the deftest of deflections to fly home high past Bowns.
Having created Osman's goal, Stingrays centre Davies was then given a two-plus-ten for a soft check from behind on the Clan's goalscorer Galbraith - only for the Rays to kill off the penalty with a surprisingly aggressive and effective defence.
Crucially, that penalty kill gave the Stingrays momentum going forward, and they once again took the lead just over 40 seconds later - Kurtis Dulle finding the twine behind Zemlak from the blueline for a 4-3 lead.
The contest was far from over heading into the final 20 but it was the home side that carried over their ever-improving form from the second period with Ozolins - who was again a threat whenever he was given the puck and who ended the night with four assists - going close.
The Latvians chance from close in on Clan keeper Zemlak inadvertently dislodged the blade from the Canadians left skate leaving him unable to take his place between the pipes. He was replaced by back-up Michael Will - who took home the two points for the Clan on his last visit to Hull.
Unfortunately for Braehead and their chances in the fixture, Will's first move was to drop a clanger, fumbling a speculative wristshot from Squires before losing track of the nearby rebound to allow Jason Silverthorn to prod home into an empty net behind a disorientated Will for crucial 5-3 lead.
The game still was not won though and the Clan - who attacked with purpose and vigor throughout the night -immediately replied through British forward Adam Walker to again narrow the gap to one.
With his skate fixed, Zemlak then returned to the pipes to complete an wholly unsuccessful outing for Will - who posted one save on two shots - only for the Clan number one to take, what would turn out to be, a costly slashing penalty after lashing out at a Rays forward.
Stingrays captain Dulle then completed the victory and the three point weekend on the ensuing powerplay with an awkward wristshot which may or may not have taken a deflection on its way past Zemlak.
The victory levelled up the Stingrays-Clan series at 1-1 with the two sides set to meet again at the Hull Arena on Thursday and in Glasgow on Saturday. Cloutier's side will then complete an important five game run against Gardiner Conference sides with a fixture at Murrayfield against the Edinburgh Capitals.
FBB Three Stars
1. Ben Bowns
2. Shane Lovdahl
3. Matty Davies
