Belfast Giants 3-0 Hull Stingrays
Showing posts with label Belfast Giants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Belfast Giants. Show all posts
Saturday, 8 February 2014
Monday, 30 December 2013
Shortbenched Stingrays suffer double defeat in Belfast
Belfast Giants 6-1 Hull Stingrays (L/CC)
The Hull Stingrays hopes of reaching sixth place in the Elite League and the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup were tonight dashed in Northern Ireland as they were defeated by six goals to one by the Belfast Giants in a doubled up league and cup quarter final fixture.
Sylvain Cloutier's side have been performing well short-benched in recent weeks and they were again without suspended import Martin Ondrej and Pavel Gomeniuk (work committments) and injured Brits Matty Davies, Tom Squires and Sam Towner.
However, it was always going to be an incredibly tough night for the Rays as they took on the Elite League leading Belfast Giants shortbenched and so it proved as the Giants exposed and exploited the Stingrays outshooting them 48-31 on the way to a 6-1 win.
The home side took 16 minutes to net their opening goal through Kevin Saurette before Evan Cheverie added a second just over two minutes later.
The Stingrays found some joy 7.19 into the second period as a Guillaume Doucet powerplay goal - his eighth goal in just three games - reduced the deficit to one but the Giants added two further goals towards the end of the period through Chris Higgins and Darryl Lloyd - extending the lead to 4-1.
Craig Peacock would add two further markers in the third period to complete a comfortable 6-1 win for Paul Adey's side.
The defeat knocks the Stingrays out of the Challenge Cup competition at the Quarter Final stage following an agreement between the two club's to reduce the stage from a two-legged affair to a one-off knockout, while it also prevents Cloutier's side from moving up to sixth in the Elite League table.
Despite the double defeat, the month of December has been remarkably fruitful for the Stingrays - who in nine games, including tonight, have only twice been defeated in regulation time, picking up five wins and 12 points along the way.
They return to action in the new year away from home on Thursday 2nd January in Sheffield and Saturday 4th January in Coventry before their first home fixture of 2014 against the Fife Flyers - whom they meet at the Hull Arena for the first time this season and the first of four visits in the next three months.
The Hull Stingrays hopes of reaching sixth place in the Elite League and the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup were tonight dashed in Northern Ireland as they were defeated by six goals to one by the Belfast Giants in a doubled up league and cup quarter final fixture.
Sylvain Cloutier's side have been performing well short-benched in recent weeks and they were again without suspended import Martin Ondrej and Pavel Gomeniuk (work committments) and injured Brits Matty Davies, Tom Squires and Sam Towner.
However, it was always going to be an incredibly tough night for the Rays as they took on the Elite League leading Belfast Giants shortbenched and so it proved as the Giants exposed and exploited the Stingrays outshooting them 48-31 on the way to a 6-1 win.
The home side took 16 minutes to net their opening goal through Kevin Saurette before Evan Cheverie added a second just over two minutes later.
The Stingrays found some joy 7.19 into the second period as a Guillaume Doucet powerplay goal - his eighth goal in just three games - reduced the deficit to one but the Giants added two further goals towards the end of the period through Chris Higgins and Darryl Lloyd - extending the lead to 4-1.
Craig Peacock would add two further markers in the third period to complete a comfortable 6-1 win for Paul Adey's side.
The defeat knocks the Stingrays out of the Challenge Cup competition at the Quarter Final stage following an agreement between the two club's to reduce the stage from a two-legged affair to a one-off knockout, while it also prevents Cloutier's side from moving up to sixth in the Elite League table.
Despite the double defeat, the month of December has been remarkably fruitful for the Stingrays - who in nine games, including tonight, have only twice been defeated in regulation time, picking up five wins and 12 points along the way.
They return to action in the new year away from home on Thursday 2nd January in Sheffield and Saturday 4th January in Coventry before their first home fixture of 2014 against the Fife Flyers - whom they meet at the Hull Arena for the first time this season and the first of four visits in the next three months.
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Saturday, 9 November 2013
Bowns stops 60 shots as Stingrays shut out at home by Belfast
Hull Stingrays 0-2 Belfast Giants
A superb 60 save effort from netminder Ben Bowns was tonight not enough to prevent the Hull Stingrays from losing by two goals to nil at home to the Belfast Giants.
The fixture pit the Great Britain national team number one netminder Stephen Murphy in the Giants net against his understudy Bowns and the contrast between their 60 minutes couldn't have been more stark.
While Bowns was called into action early and often - stopping 21 of 22 shots in just the opening period and 60 of 62 overall - Murphy had just six Stingray shots to deal with in the first and 19 overall.
The only Belfast shot that did beat the Stingrays netminder in the first period came from the stick of Dustin Whitecotton on the powerplay after 6.30.
The veteran Canadian was given time and space close in on Bowns to pick his spot five hole after Rays defenceman Jeff Smith was preoccupied with removing another Giants from in front of the crease
In fairness to the Giants, it was absolutely no more than they deserved even after just six minutes as they asserted their dominance over the Stingrays from the opening face-off and never looked back.
For large periods - in fact, the vast majority of the game - the Stingrays were powerless to prevent wave after wave of Belfast attack and Belfast puck possession. When Sylvain Cloutier's side did finally manage stem the flow they were unable to create any attacking drive of their own and if they did their offensive advances were snuffed out by a solid Belfast defensive core.
The only thing that ever looked like really denying the Giants two well deserved and hard fought points was Bowns. Unfortunately for the Rays following that sixth minute goal, he wasn't able to snipe home the all-important first Stingrays goal that just might've given them the momentum that they so craved.
Referee Michael Hicks was rightly vilified by home fans - and possibly also some of the Giants contingent that have traveled over for their away double header this weekend - for failing to live up to his early billing but in truth he had no impact on the outcome of the game.
Having called pretty much anything and everything in the opening period - totaling 14 minutes and seven minor penalties - Hicks appeared to become somewhat more relaxed towards infractions as the game wore on. Coincidentally or not, this perceived change in attitude towards penalties tied in with a number of missed calls on the Stingrays.
Whether those debatable penalties had been given or not, the home side still simply wouldn't have had enough - skillfully or physically - to defeat an overpowering Giants side.
Excellent on the penalty kill, stopping eight of nine opportunities including a rousing five and a half minute kill late in the second, the Stingrays powerplay - while offering a welcome break from the constant Belfast offensive pressure and puck possession - struggled and was unable to generate any true scoring chances.
Carl Lauzon probably came the closest to opening the scoring for the Stingrays late on in the second period as his shot on the powerplay rang off the cross bar and up over the plexi-glass.
The home side were trailing 2-0 by this point - having again been heavily out shot 23-6 in the second period - after Calvin Efring sold Martin Ondrej an exaggerated shot fake before beating Bowns with a wicked shot moments later.
It was a complete performance from the Giants and 2-0 up heading into the third they gave the Stingrays no respite firing a further 17 shots on the Stingrays net with Bowns equal to all of them.
Though the Giants had done more than enough to beat a Stingrays side that whose offence they smothered, it is worth pondering whether they would have run out winners had they been facing an Erhardt Conference side.
Worryingly for the Stingrays, had it not been for the performance of their netminder, they could have found themselves on the end of a morale sapping thrashing.
Bowns' outstanding man of the match performance - or not as it were, as the match sponsors mystifyingly gave it to Omar Pacha - kept the Stingrays within reaching distance of snatching a point against all odds. That's not to say the Stingrays as a team didn't work hard in their attempts to keep the visitors at bay, simply that on this occasion they were beaten by a better team.
Cloutier and his side will do well to learn from the Giants performance but equally, although they relied on Bowns more than they would've liked, they will take heart from the fact they kept Belfast largely at bay and within striking distance minus an all important import.
They will travel to South Wales on Sunday to re-visit the scene of their thrilling 6-5 shootout loss to the Cardiff Devils less than two weeks ago.
The Devils will be boosted by the signing of former NHLer Tomas Kurka - who will make his debut - and they will face a Stingrays side that have yet to defeat an Erhardt Conference side in league play this season.
A superb 60 save effort from netminder Ben Bowns was tonight not enough to prevent the Hull Stingrays from losing by two goals to nil at home to the Belfast Giants.
The fixture pit the Great Britain national team number one netminder Stephen Murphy in the Giants net against his understudy Bowns and the contrast between their 60 minutes couldn't have been more stark.
While Bowns was called into action early and often - stopping 21 of 22 shots in just the opening period and 60 of 62 overall - Murphy had just six Stingray shots to deal with in the first and 19 overall.
The only Belfast shot that did beat the Stingrays netminder in the first period came from the stick of Dustin Whitecotton on the powerplay after 6.30.
The veteran Canadian was given time and space close in on Bowns to pick his spot five hole after Rays defenceman Jeff Smith was preoccupied with removing another Giants from in front of the crease
In fairness to the Giants, it was absolutely no more than they deserved even after just six minutes as they asserted their dominance over the Stingrays from the opening face-off and never looked back.
For large periods - in fact, the vast majority of the game - the Stingrays were powerless to prevent wave after wave of Belfast attack and Belfast puck possession. When Sylvain Cloutier's side did finally manage stem the flow they were unable to create any attacking drive of their own and if they did their offensive advances were snuffed out by a solid Belfast defensive core.
The only thing that ever looked like really denying the Giants two well deserved and hard fought points was Bowns. Unfortunately for the Rays following that sixth minute goal, he wasn't able to snipe home the all-important first Stingrays goal that just might've given them the momentum that they so craved.
Referee Michael Hicks was rightly vilified by home fans - and possibly also some of the Giants contingent that have traveled over for their away double header this weekend - for failing to live up to his early billing but in truth he had no impact on the outcome of the game.
Having called pretty much anything and everything in the opening period - totaling 14 minutes and seven minor penalties - Hicks appeared to become somewhat more relaxed towards infractions as the game wore on. Coincidentally or not, this perceived change in attitude towards penalties tied in with a number of missed calls on the Stingrays.
Whether those debatable penalties had been given or not, the home side still simply wouldn't have had enough - skillfully or physically - to defeat an overpowering Giants side.
Excellent on the penalty kill, stopping eight of nine opportunities including a rousing five and a half minute kill late in the second, the Stingrays powerplay - while offering a welcome break from the constant Belfast offensive pressure and puck possession - struggled and was unable to generate any true scoring chances.
Carl Lauzon probably came the closest to opening the scoring for the Stingrays late on in the second period as his shot on the powerplay rang off the cross bar and up over the plexi-glass.
The home side were trailing 2-0 by this point - having again been heavily out shot 23-6 in the second period - after Calvin Efring sold Martin Ondrej an exaggerated shot fake before beating Bowns with a wicked shot moments later.
It was a complete performance from the Giants and 2-0 up heading into the third they gave the Stingrays no respite firing a further 17 shots on the Stingrays net with Bowns equal to all of them.
Though the Giants had done more than enough to beat a Stingrays side that whose offence they smothered, it is worth pondering whether they would have run out winners had they been facing an Erhardt Conference side.
Worryingly for the Stingrays, had it not been for the performance of their netminder, they could have found themselves on the end of a morale sapping thrashing.
Bowns' outstanding man of the match performance - or not as it were, as the match sponsors mystifyingly gave it to Omar Pacha - kept the Stingrays within reaching distance of snatching a point against all odds. That's not to say the Stingrays as a team didn't work hard in their attempts to keep the visitors at bay, simply that on this occasion they were beaten by a better team.
Cloutier and his side will do well to learn from the Giants performance but equally, although they relied on Bowns more than they would've liked, they will take heart from the fact they kept Belfast largely at bay and within striking distance minus an all important import.
They will travel to South Wales on Sunday to re-visit the scene of their thrilling 6-5 shootout loss to the Cardiff Devils less than two weeks ago.
The Devils will be boosted by the signing of former NHLer Tomas Kurka - who will make his debut - and they will face a Stingrays side that have yet to defeat an Erhardt Conference side in league play this season.
FBB Three Stars
1. Ben Bowns (60 saves)
2. Omar Pacha (0+0)
3. Matt Suderman (0+0)
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Sunday, 29 September 2013
Stingrays comeback thwarted by late Belfast powerplay goal
Hull Stingrays 2-3 Belfast Giants
The Hull Stingrays tonight came back from two goals down in the third period to draw level with Erhardt Conference side the Belfast Giants, only to concede a late powerplay goal and lose out three goals to two.
The home side - who entered the game on the back of four consecutive losses - found themselves two goals down after two periods thanks to powerplay goals from Kevin Saurette (15.09) - who has a phomenal scoring record against the Stingrays - and Dustin Whitecotton (25.52).
However, having outshot their opponents in the opening two periods, the Stingrays finally came good in the third.
First, Jereme Tendler found the net just two minutes and 48 seconds into the final period with the Rays only powerplay goal on six attempts on the night. Derek Campbell then bagged his league leading third shorthanded goal of the season with less than seven minutes remaining to level the scores.
Just as it looked as though the Stingrays might notch at least their third point of the season, the Giants recorded their third powerplay goal of the evening on their sixth attempt with Kyle Mariani sitting two minutes for interference.
Ben Bowns - who stopped 31 of 34 shots going up against GB number on Stephen Murphy - was then pulled and it had looked like the Rays might've once again leveled in the final minute, however, the goal was not given and the Giants held on for the win.
Although the Stingrays largely matched the Giants blow for blow and that, in itself, should prove to be a confidence boost for Sylvain Cloutier, the Rays coach and his players will be disappointed not to convert the comeback into a much needed win.
Now on a five game losing streak, it is important the Rays use the momentum from tonight's improved performance in next weekend's home and away double header against the in-form Dundee Stars.
The Stars have lost just two of nine games so far this season - having already beaten Cardiff, Coventry, Nottingham and Sheffield as well as Gardiner Conference sides Braehead and Edinburgh - and will inevitably prove a tough challenge.
The Hull Stingrays tonight came back from two goals down in the third period to draw level with Erhardt Conference side the Belfast Giants, only to concede a late powerplay goal and lose out three goals to two.
The home side - who entered the game on the back of four consecutive losses - found themselves two goals down after two periods thanks to powerplay goals from Kevin Saurette (15.09) - who has a phomenal scoring record against the Stingrays - and Dustin Whitecotton (25.52).
However, having outshot their opponents in the opening two periods, the Stingrays finally came good in the third.
First, Jereme Tendler found the net just two minutes and 48 seconds into the final period with the Rays only powerplay goal on six attempts on the night. Derek Campbell then bagged his league leading third shorthanded goal of the season with less than seven minutes remaining to level the scores.
Just as it looked as though the Stingrays might notch at least their third point of the season, the Giants recorded their third powerplay goal of the evening on their sixth attempt with Kyle Mariani sitting two minutes for interference.
Ben Bowns - who stopped 31 of 34 shots going up against GB number on Stephen Murphy - was then pulled and it had looked like the Rays might've once again leveled in the final minute, however, the goal was not given and the Giants held on for the win.
Although the Stingrays largely matched the Giants blow for blow and that, in itself, should prove to be a confidence boost for Sylvain Cloutier, the Rays coach and his players will be disappointed not to convert the comeback into a much needed win.
Now on a five game losing streak, it is important the Rays use the momentum from tonight's improved performance in next weekend's home and away double header against the in-form Dundee Stars.
The Stars have lost just two of nine games so far this season - having already beaten Cardiff, Coventry, Nottingham and Sheffield as well as Gardiner Conference sides Braehead and Edinburgh - and will inevitably prove a tough challenge.
Saturday, 2 February 2013
Sandrock powerplay double sinks plucky Stingrays
Belfast Giants 5-4 Hull Stingrays
The Hull Stingrays tonight traveled to Northern Ireland and put in a gutsy effort, falling just short against the title chasing Belfast Giants by five goals to four for the second time in two visits.
Sylvain Cloutier's side took the lead after just 40 seconds with captain Kurtis Dulle netting on his return to action following suspension.
Goals from Kevin Saurette (PP) and Greg Stewart after 17.50 then gave the Giants a 2-1 lead heading into the second.
The Giants further extended their lead 58 seconds into the second period before Dulle completed a highly successful return to action bagging his second of the night exactly a minute later.
Robby Sandrock then netted a powerplay double either side of Dmitri Rodin's first of the season in Stingrays colours to give the Giants a 5-3 lead.
Tom Squires fifth goal of the season with just over seven seconds then remaining gave the Rays hope of snatching the point their effort deserved with coach Cloutier bagging his third assist of the game and second three point game in less than a week.
However, the Stingrays - who conceded three powerplay goals on five powerplays - were unable to force the issue and tie the game in the remaining moments despite pulling Ben Bowns in favour of the extra outskater with the Giants closing out the game and two points.
The Hull Stingrays tonight traveled to Northern Ireland and put in a gutsy effort, falling just short against the title chasing Belfast Giants by five goals to four for the second time in two visits.
Sylvain Cloutier's side took the lead after just 40 seconds with captain Kurtis Dulle netting on his return to action following suspension.
Goals from Kevin Saurette (PP) and Greg Stewart after 17.50 then gave the Giants a 2-1 lead heading into the second.
The Giants further extended their lead 58 seconds into the second period before Dulle completed a highly successful return to action bagging his second of the night exactly a minute later.
Robby Sandrock then netted a powerplay double either side of Dmitri Rodin's first of the season in Stingrays colours to give the Giants a 5-3 lead.
Tom Squires fifth goal of the season with just over seven seconds then remaining gave the Rays hope of snatching the point their effort deserved with coach Cloutier bagging his third assist of the game and second three point game in less than a week.
However, the Stingrays - who conceded three powerplay goals on five powerplays - were unable to force the issue and tie the game in the remaining moments despite pulling Ben Bowns in favour of the extra outskater with the Giants closing out the game and two points.
Sunday, 30 December 2012
Second period comeback not enough as Stingrays knocked out of Challenge Cup
Belfast Giants 5-4 Hull Stingrays (8-5 on agg.)
More soon...
More soon...
FBB Three Stars
1. Jereme Tendler
2. Jason Silverthorn
3. Ben Bowns
Monday, 17 December 2012
Two goal lead for Giants as Stingrays Challenge Cup Quarter Final moves to Belfast
Hull Stingrays 1-3 Belfast Giants (Challenge Cup Quarter Final 1st Leg)
The Hull Stingrays kept their dreams of making the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals alive by the slimmest of margins tonight as they were defeated 3-1 by the Belfast Giants in the first leg of the Quarter Finals at the Hull Arena.
More to follow...
The Hull Stingrays kept their dreams of making the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals alive by the slimmest of margins tonight as they were defeated 3-1 by the Belfast Giants in the first leg of the Quarter Finals at the Hull Arena.
More to follow...
FBB Three Stars
1. Kurtis Dulle
2. Sam Towner
3. Shane Lovdahl
Saturday, 17 November 2012
Scrappy Stingrays fall just short against Giants
Hull Stingrays 2-3 Belfast Giants
The Hull Stingrays tonight fell to their second home defeat against the Belfast Giants this season, narrowly losing out to the title contenders by three goals to two in a scrappy affair at the Hull Arena.
The match-up was the Northern Irish sides first fixture for two weeks following the re-arrangement of a number of their games due to Great Britain's successful trip to Japan and pit GB's two netminders - Ben Bowns and Stephen Murphy - against each other.
The home side got off to a great start following their mid-week defeat in Fife, Matty Davies perfectly controlling a defence-splitting pass only for GB number one Murphy to deny the ensuing chance minutes in.
On his first shift enforcer Ryan Hand - who may have shed the gloves against Belfast enforcer Adam Keefe - was on the end of an innocuous shoulder from the Giants defenceman in front of the Giants net and immediately hit the floor. The Canadian appeared to feel the after-affects of the collision and immediately left the ice - he was seemingly used sparingly throughout the game and lacked the impact of recent weeks.
The Rays looked confident, with their passing, control of the game and powerplay noticeably better than it had been for large parts this season and shots raining in on Murphy - though they were surprisingly outshot 14-12 in the first period. Nevertheless, despite the positive start to the game, they failed to make their decent start to the game pay and that would later cost them.
Unsurprisingly, the league leading Giants stepped it up a notch in the middle period and the Rays struggled to cope with the speedy, determined onslaught.
Outshooting the Rays 17-9 in a dominant second stanza - the Giants opened the scoring with a simple one-time goal from Craig Peacock, who found plenty of space between Kurtis Dulle and Jeff Smith in front to fire home after a neat pass from behind the net by Noah Clarke.
Suffering a mini-collapse due to sustained Belfast pressure, the Rays then conceded again just over a minute-and-a-half later as Andrew Fournier ghosted between Martin Ondrej and Shane Lovdahl to slot past Bowns unassisted.
A third Belfast goal then materialised on 32.57, as Robby Sandrock bulleted a trademark slapshot home on the powerplay for a sound and well-deserved three goal lead for the visitors.
However, with the storm seemingly weathered, Jereme Tendler's speculative long-range wristshot beat Murphy to finally give Sylvain Cloutier's side the goal they so deserved in the first period two minutes heading into the second intermission - giving them hope heading into the third.
Doug Christiansen's side continued their dominance at the beginning of the final stanza but the Stingrays somehow still found themselves well within a shot of snatching a point with ten minutes to play - despite a somewhat scrappy showing overall.
With 7.53 to play Jason Silverthorn took the initiative and slotted home a shorthanded goal moments after Dominic Osman had rung the post on the break. The comeback was, seemingly, on.
Unfortunately, the Rays fragmented offence - in part due to the Giants shutdown of Janis Ozolins - couldn't muster an equalising goal as they squandered a late powerplay before failing to challenge the Giants goal with Bowns pulled in favour of an extra outskater. Their biggest and best chance for a leveller came through Cloutier but the player-coach could only fire agonisingly wide just seconds before the buzzer to hand the Giants the victory.
The Stingrays - who encouragingly ran Belfast very close despite not being at their best - travel to Edinburgh tomorrow night to take on the Capitals in front of what is expected to be a big crowd at Murrayfield.
FBB Three Stars
1. Ben Bowns
2. Matty Davies
3. Jason Silverthorn
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Monday, 8 October 2012
Big effort from the Stingrays but Giants show their dominance
Hull Stingrays 1-4 Belfast Giants
by Mark Bateman
by Mark Bateman
After a torrid time against the Dundee Stars just 24 hours earlier, the Hull Stingrays were looking to get back on track on home ice but faced fearsome opposition in the shape of last season’s Elite League Champions, Belfast Giants.
It was the Giants first visit to Hull Arena this season and Doug Christensen has again put together a roster that is the envy of most coaches. His men have already gone about establishing themselves at the top of the Rapid Solicitors Elite League standings, overall, and would prove a real challenge for Sylvain Cloutier’s side.
Following a delayed face off, caused by former Stingray Dave Phillips shattering the plexi glass, Hull started brightly and set about Belfast with energy and purpose and it wasn’t long before Great Britain goalie and Giants number one, Stephen Murphy, was called into service, as the Rays offence started to create the opportunities that had been absent from their game the previous night.
With ten minutes on the clock, a pinpoint pace found Cale Tanaka who went one-on-one with Murphy only to see his rasping shot cannon back off the crossbar. The Canadian was not to be denied however and two minutes later saw a deflected effort bounce off the hapless Murphy and into the net.
The goal had the arena rocking and with six minutes left to play, enforcer Ryan Hand and Giants captain Adam Keefe dropped the gloves, for the first time in the match, with the Belfast player maybe getting the upper hand in this contest.
Cloutier has stressed the need for his Stingrays side to play for 60 minutes but again this didn’t happen and the Giants came out the traps flying in the second period and made quick work of putting the Rays to the sword.
Markers from Andrew Fouriner, less than 30 seconds into the second period, Will Colbert, on the power play, and a top shelf finish from Darryl Lloyd put the Giants in the driving seat. The Rays fans did have something to cheer about however, when Hand and Keefe went for round two, this time Hand emerged victorious.
A lacklustre third period saw Belfast lose the services of Gregory Stewart, after an ill-fated attempt to fight Jeff Smith resulted in a nasty head wound. But the Giants showed their class and managed to extend their lead with Noah Clarke scoring a five-on-three power play goal with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Lloyd picked up the MoM award for Belfast and Ryan Hand walked away with the Stingrays’ Mom.
All-in-all it was a familiar story for Stingrays, too many penalties and the same problem of not being able to play for a full 60 minutes again saw them come away with nothing.
Positives are there to be taken however, with Ben Bowns again showing his quality between the pipes and in Tanaka the Rays have a forward who show great innovation.
It was an improved display with creativity and fighting spirit, both of which will set the side up well for their away double header next weekend with the Nottingham Panthers on Saturday before facing the Stars at Dundee Ice Arena on Sunday.
FBB Three Stars
1. Ryan Hand
2. Cale Tanaka
3. Ben Bowns
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Stingrays denied by leaders
Excel Hull Stingrays 1 - 3 Belfast Giants
The Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight agonisingly denied a fourth consecutive Elite League win by the Belfast Giants, as the league leaders completed a slightly fortuitous hit and run on Stingrays in a tightly fought 3-1 victory.
Without British rookie Bobby Chamberlain through suspension and player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - who remained on the bench as the club's 11th import - the Stingrays could have potentially lead moments into the game. Derek Campbell - who stood out once again for his strength and determination - only managing to fire into the body of Giants netminder Stephen Murphy after hard work in the corner from line mate Jason Silverthorn.
That is about as good as it would get for the home side in the first period though as a combination of poor discipline and the Giants good form - having beaten Nottingham a night earlier - saw Doug Christiansen's dominate the opening period.
It was thanks to that that the visitors came closest to opening the scoring after ten minutes, Rays defenceman Sam McCluskey clearing off the line after a shot had uncharacteristically snuck through netminder Christian Boucher on the powerplay.
The Stingrays keeper was tested regularly throughout the game but thankfully came out on top more often than not, particularly in the first period, as his side killed off three powerplay's.
Having worked so hard to snuff out the Giants powerplay, it was perhaps typical that the Northern Irish side would net the games opening goal,, typically shorthanded on a Stingrays powerplay. Agitator Darryl Lloyd deservedly handing the Giants a 1-0 first period lead having outshot the home team 21-3.
Cloutier's side improved early in the second period, firing shots in on Murphy in an attempt to force an error from the GB international.
Though the Giants somewhat comfortably held their one goal lead for the majority of the second, with seven minutes remaining in the period the Stingrays - almost out of nowhere - turned it on, pressurising the Giants into their own end.
Their play and continuous pressure during this spell was the polar opposite of their first period showing and seemingly materialised from nothing. First Martin Ondrej hit the post as he searched for his first goal in Rays colours before Frantisek Bakrlik was prevented from forcing home close in and Dominic Osman was denied in a double effort - the second of which was a diving shot which Murphy gratefully turned away in a Stingrays onslaught.
Then on 36.06 new addition Kurtis Dulle added his first goal of 11/12 to go with his 12 of 10/11, duly scrapping the puck home after hard work from Dan Scott - who netted his first point as a Stingray - and Tristan Harper.
The goal was no less than the Rays deserved in a seven minute spell that surely rates as the Stingrays best of 11/12. Nevertheless, despite having all the momentum, they failed to capitalise on further chances in the remaining four minutes and the sides went in to the second intermission level.
More of the same followed as the Rays began the third as they finished the second, Murphy time and again coming up with saves in front of an atmospheric Hull crowd that believed they were about to witness a home win for just the third time this season.
Their biggest chance to snatch the win came on 50 minutes, as Jereme Tendler - who had an uncharacteristically below par 60 minutes - was denied by the Belfast keeper on a breakaway.
Having missed that opportunity, the key moment in the game followed as a controlled and threatening Stingrays powerplay attempt bore no fruit and was abruptly ended by a Dmitri Rodin interference call, giving the Giants a moment of respite.
That momentary rest, spent all in the Giants offensive zone, allowed Christainsen's side to regroup having largely been outplayed by the home team in the final period and a half.
That continued until the 55 minute mark when referee Andy Carson failed to call a blatant trip on defenceman Dulle - who was bringing the puck out of the defensive zone - handing possession of the puck to the Giants in a threatening position before Beniot Doucet inadvertently and luckily saw his shot deflected home in off a Stingray.
The eventual game winning goal knocked all the wind out of the Stingrays sails as the Giants went on to net a shorthanded, empty net goal through Mark Garside with 38 seconds left on the clock to seal the score at 3-1 in favour of the league leaders.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Rays who, first period aside, played as well as they have all year, continuing their recent turn in form following last weekend's loss to Edinburgh.
While tonight's truly was a team effort, special praise must go to netminder Boucher who kept the Rays in it during a particularly difficult first period.
Despite a run of three wins in five games over a two week period - a record that, despite the home Edinburgh loss, Cloutier would have been happy with from the outset - the Rays boss must now release one import, having observed and coached from the bench during the last three games following Dulle's arrival.
Over the previous two games it is fair to say the forwards have put their case forward, racking up 13 goals, while tonight's performance was a team effort in which no one disappointed.
Cloutier is expected to make his decision early next week ahead of two full weekends of Challenge Cup fixtures - a competitive they are all but mathematically out of - including a home double header to Coventry and Sheffield next weekend.
The Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight agonisingly denied a fourth consecutive Elite League win by the Belfast Giants, as the league leaders completed a slightly fortuitous hit and run on Stingrays in a tightly fought 3-1 victory.
Without British rookie Bobby Chamberlain through suspension and player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - who remained on the bench as the club's 11th import - the Stingrays could have potentially lead moments into the game. Derek Campbell - who stood out once again for his strength and determination - only managing to fire into the body of Giants netminder Stephen Murphy after hard work in the corner from line mate Jason Silverthorn.
That is about as good as it would get for the home side in the first period though as a combination of poor discipline and the Giants good form - having beaten Nottingham a night earlier - saw Doug Christiansen's dominate the opening period.
It was thanks to that that the visitors came closest to opening the scoring after ten minutes, Rays defenceman Sam McCluskey clearing off the line after a shot had uncharacteristically snuck through netminder Christian Boucher on the powerplay.
The Stingrays keeper was tested regularly throughout the game but thankfully came out on top more often than not, particularly in the first period, as his side killed off three powerplay's.
Having worked so hard to snuff out the Giants powerplay, it was perhaps typical that the Northern Irish side would net the games opening goal,, typically shorthanded on a Stingrays powerplay. Agitator Darryl Lloyd deservedly handing the Giants a 1-0 first period lead having outshot the home team 21-3.
Cloutier's side improved early in the second period, firing shots in on Murphy in an attempt to force an error from the GB international.
Though the Giants somewhat comfortably held their one goal lead for the majority of the second, with seven minutes remaining in the period the Stingrays - almost out of nowhere - turned it on, pressurising the Giants into their own end.
Their play and continuous pressure during this spell was the polar opposite of their first period showing and seemingly materialised from nothing. First Martin Ondrej hit the post as he searched for his first goal in Rays colours before Frantisek Bakrlik was prevented from forcing home close in and Dominic Osman was denied in a double effort - the second of which was a diving shot which Murphy gratefully turned away in a Stingrays onslaught.
Then on 36.06 new addition Kurtis Dulle added his first goal of 11/12 to go with his 12 of 10/11, duly scrapping the puck home after hard work from Dan Scott - who netted his first point as a Stingray - and Tristan Harper.
The goal was no less than the Rays deserved in a seven minute spell that surely rates as the Stingrays best of 11/12. Nevertheless, despite having all the momentum, they failed to capitalise on further chances in the remaining four minutes and the sides went in to the second intermission level.
More of the same followed as the Rays began the third as they finished the second, Murphy time and again coming up with saves in front of an atmospheric Hull crowd that believed they were about to witness a home win for just the third time this season.
Their biggest chance to snatch the win came on 50 minutes, as Jereme Tendler - who had an uncharacteristically below par 60 minutes - was denied by the Belfast keeper on a breakaway.
Having missed that opportunity, the key moment in the game followed as a controlled and threatening Stingrays powerplay attempt bore no fruit and was abruptly ended by a Dmitri Rodin interference call, giving the Giants a moment of respite.
That momentary rest, spent all in the Giants offensive zone, allowed Christainsen's side to regroup having largely been outplayed by the home team in the final period and a half.
That continued until the 55 minute mark when referee Andy Carson failed to call a blatant trip on defenceman Dulle - who was bringing the puck out of the defensive zone - handing possession of the puck to the Giants in a threatening position before Beniot Doucet inadvertently and luckily saw his shot deflected home in off a Stingray.
The eventual game winning goal knocked all the wind out of the Stingrays sails as the Giants went on to net a shorthanded, empty net goal through Mark Garside with 38 seconds left on the clock to seal the score at 3-1 in favour of the league leaders.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Rays who, first period aside, played as well as they have all year, continuing their recent turn in form following last weekend's loss to Edinburgh.
While tonight's truly was a team effort, special praise must go to netminder Boucher who kept the Rays in it during a particularly difficult first period.
Despite a run of three wins in five games over a two week period - a record that, despite the home Edinburgh loss, Cloutier would have been happy with from the outset - the Rays boss must now release one import, having observed and coached from the bench during the last three games following Dulle's arrival.
Over the previous two games it is fair to say the forwards have put their case forward, racking up 13 goals, while tonight's performance was a team effort in which no one disappointed.
Cloutier is expected to make his decision early next week ahead of two full weekends of Challenge Cup fixtures - a competitive they are all but mathematically out of - including a home double header to Coventry and Sheffield next weekend.
Rays Rating
8
FBB Three Stars
1 - Christian Boucher (41 saves)
2 - Derek Campbell (0+0)
3 - Frantisek Bakrlik (0+0)
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Giant effort from Stingrays not enough to hold back Belfast
Excel Hull Stingrays 3 - 4 Belfast Giants
The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight went down by four goals to three to Elite Ice Hockey League leaders the Belfast Giants despite having lead 3-1 after 24 minutes thanks to three powerplay goals.
The special teams, and particularly the man advantage, has perhaps been the brightest spot for the Stingrays during their opening seven league games this term and the first 24 minutes would go a long way to proving that.
The tone for a penalty strewn first period was set just six seconds in, Stingrays Derek Campbell and Belfast enforcer Adam Keefe dropping the gloves from opening face-off in a fairly uneventful fight which the league leaders man may have edged.
What followed that opening tussle was a seemingly unstoppable procession to the penalty box as referee Andy Carson dished out an incredible 35 minutes to Belfast and 17 to the Stingrays in the opening 20 minutes - 14 of those going to the Giants Ryan Crane.
Given their clinical ability on the powerplay so far this season, this favoured the home side as they raced into a deserved two-goal lead after 16 minutes.
For once the Stingrays were afforded the opportunity of a good start in the frantic opening minutes, Jason Silverthorn rifling one past an unsighted Stephen Murphy in the Belfast net after 2.45 - on a goal that gave Tristan Harper his first point in a Stingrays jersey.
Campbell then added to his earlier fight with a deserved first goal for the Stingrays - tipping in a unconvincing blueline shot from Dmitri Rodin to double the lead.
With the intermission of an entertaining period closing in the home team leaked a crucial goal to the Giants, Martin Ondrej losing the puck in his own end before Brock McBride ghosted into as the extra man to halve the lead with less than 20 seconds left on the clock.
Save for the late goal, the Stingrays continued the second as they had ended the first, though former Steeler and new Belfast signing Robert Dowd missed what appeared to be an open goal sitter three minutes in.
Silverthorn then added his second of the night and fifth of the season on the Stingrays third powerplay goal of the evening, again firing past Murphy to restore the two goal lead having been set up by a move from Frantisek Bakrlik which saw two Giants nearly collide mid-ice.
Though it is fair to say their ability on the powerplay had, at this stage, somewhat helped them into a two-goal lead at, the Stingrays had been more than competing with the reigning playoff champions.
That was until the 25th minute, immediately following what would be their last goal, when the Giants turned up the pressure and forced the Stingrays into their own end, sustaining that pressure continuously for the first time in the game.
It is no coincidence that the Giants first real period of superiority came at a time when they were finally, for the first time in the game, at full strength.
Following Ondrej's earlier mistake for Belfast's opener, it was two further defensive mistakes combined with the Giants unrelenting offence that forced the visitors back into the game as the Rays continually struggled to clear their lines.
First McBride added his eighth of the season and second of the game, profiting from captain Joshua Mizerek losing the puck in the corner. Then, both Dominic Osman and Dan Scott failed to fire the puck out of the defensive end, allowing Beniot Doucet to level the game for the Northern Irish side - much to the dismay of Osman, who proceeded to smash his stick on the bar of Christian Boucher's net, frustrated at letting the game slip from the Rays grasp.
Having weathered the majority of a whirlwind Belfast storm, the Stingrays may have perhaps been thankful to have been heading into the final stanza level and not behind. If the first period belonged to the home side thanks to the man advantage, the second saw Belfast's superiority five-on-five come to the fore.
The deciding point in the final stanza, and indeed the game, came nearly ten minutes into the third. Stingrays agitator Campbell compounded an eventful night and a generally good all-around performance with a moment of madness.
The 31 year old reacted badly to a big hip-check from Daryll Lloyd in the corner, hitting his stick against the plexi and firing verbals the way of referee Carson for his lack of call - to which Carson dished out a 10 minute penalty for abuse of official - before being handed a five plus match penalty for excessive roughness after frustratedly throwing a number of gloved punches at Lloyd.
That foolish penalty gave the Giants a five minute powerplay which they would capitalise upon for the first time in the game, netting what would turn out to be the game winning goal through defenceman Jeff Mason on a rebound four minutes into the advantage, after the Rays had impressively and easily killed 80% of the powerplay.
From this point on the Giants shut up shop and with less than six minutes remaining the home team found it tough to break down Doug Christiansen's side - unsurprisingly five-on-five - as the away side claimed a hard fought win for the second time in two weeks at Hull Arena.
Sylvain Cloutier's side may have yet again failed to finish off a top four side - as they did last week against Nottingham - and admittedly struggled against the Giants in that even strength period in the second, however, the positives more than outweigh those few negatives.
The Stingrays are continually referred to by people outside the club as a hard working team and eventually this hard work will surely pay off for the club after a tough early season schedule.
Naturally, there are areas of their game that can - and probably will - be improved. Defensively, three of four Belfast goals came from defensive turnovers in their own end. Offensively, the much mooted lack of depth is a problem, with most of the offensive reliance on Silverthorn, Rodin and Jereme Tendler, though this certainly shouldn't be a terminal problem, at least at this stage.
It is indeed, far too easy to focus on the negatives, particularly against a team like Belfast that boasts so much firepower and should be there or there abouts when the season comes to a close.
On the other side of things, tonight's improvements alongside last week's performance prove it is not impossible for the club to compete with the top teams, and also show Cloutier and team are getting to a level of performance they will be happy with, even if wins are not forthcoming.
While team work ethic, Silverthorn, Rodin, Tendler and netminder Boucher - who continues to defy early season critics - are amongst the other numerous positives, it has to be said the all around performance has improved three fold in the week since a demoralising 6-0 loss in Sheffield.
The Stingrays meet just their second none top five side of the season tomorrow night as they travel to Dundee to take on the Stars - who have lost all five of their opening league games, two in overtime.
The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight went down by four goals to three to Elite Ice Hockey League leaders the Belfast Giants despite having lead 3-1 after 24 minutes thanks to three powerplay goals.
The special teams, and particularly the man advantage, has perhaps been the brightest spot for the Stingrays during their opening seven league games this term and the first 24 minutes would go a long way to proving that.
The tone for a penalty strewn first period was set just six seconds in, Stingrays Derek Campbell and Belfast enforcer Adam Keefe dropping the gloves from opening face-off in a fairly uneventful fight which the league leaders man may have edged.
What followed that opening tussle was a seemingly unstoppable procession to the penalty box as referee Andy Carson dished out an incredible 35 minutes to Belfast and 17 to the Stingrays in the opening 20 minutes - 14 of those going to the Giants Ryan Crane.
Given their clinical ability on the powerplay so far this season, this favoured the home side as they raced into a deserved two-goal lead after 16 minutes.
For once the Stingrays were afforded the opportunity of a good start in the frantic opening minutes, Jason Silverthorn rifling one past an unsighted Stephen Murphy in the Belfast net after 2.45 - on a goal that gave Tristan Harper his first point in a Stingrays jersey.
Campbell then added to his earlier fight with a deserved first goal for the Stingrays - tipping in a unconvincing blueline shot from Dmitri Rodin to double the lead.
With the intermission of an entertaining period closing in the home team leaked a crucial goal to the Giants, Martin Ondrej losing the puck in his own end before Brock McBride ghosted into as the extra man to halve the lead with less than 20 seconds left on the clock.
Save for the late goal, the Stingrays continued the second as they had ended the first, though former Steeler and new Belfast signing Robert Dowd missed what appeared to be an open goal sitter three minutes in.
Silverthorn then added his second of the night and fifth of the season on the Stingrays third powerplay goal of the evening, again firing past Murphy to restore the two goal lead having been set up by a move from Frantisek Bakrlik which saw two Giants nearly collide mid-ice.
Though it is fair to say their ability on the powerplay had, at this stage, somewhat helped them into a two-goal lead at, the Stingrays had been more than competing with the reigning playoff champions.
That was until the 25th minute, immediately following what would be their last goal, when the Giants turned up the pressure and forced the Stingrays into their own end, sustaining that pressure continuously for the first time in the game.
It is no coincidence that the Giants first real period of superiority came at a time when they were finally, for the first time in the game, at full strength.
Following Ondrej's earlier mistake for Belfast's opener, it was two further defensive mistakes combined with the Giants unrelenting offence that forced the visitors back into the game as the Rays continually struggled to clear their lines.
First McBride added his eighth of the season and second of the game, profiting from captain Joshua Mizerek losing the puck in the corner. Then, both Dominic Osman and Dan Scott failed to fire the puck out of the defensive end, allowing Beniot Doucet to level the game for the Northern Irish side - much to the dismay of Osman, who proceeded to smash his stick on the bar of Christian Boucher's net, frustrated at letting the game slip from the Rays grasp.
Having weathered the majority of a whirlwind Belfast storm, the Stingrays may have perhaps been thankful to have been heading into the final stanza level and not behind. If the first period belonged to the home side thanks to the man advantage, the second saw Belfast's superiority five-on-five come to the fore.
The deciding point in the final stanza, and indeed the game, came nearly ten minutes into the third. Stingrays agitator Campbell compounded an eventful night and a generally good all-around performance with a moment of madness.
The 31 year old reacted badly to a big hip-check from Daryll Lloyd in the corner, hitting his stick against the plexi and firing verbals the way of referee Carson for his lack of call - to which Carson dished out a 10 minute penalty for abuse of official - before being handed a five plus match penalty for excessive roughness after frustratedly throwing a number of gloved punches at Lloyd.
That foolish penalty gave the Giants a five minute powerplay which they would capitalise upon for the first time in the game, netting what would turn out to be the game winning goal through defenceman Jeff Mason on a rebound four minutes into the advantage, after the Rays had impressively and easily killed 80% of the powerplay.
From this point on the Giants shut up shop and with less than six minutes remaining the home team found it tough to break down Doug Christiansen's side - unsurprisingly five-on-five - as the away side claimed a hard fought win for the second time in two weeks at Hull Arena.
Sylvain Cloutier's side may have yet again failed to finish off a top four side - as they did last week against Nottingham - and admittedly struggled against the Giants in that even strength period in the second, however, the positives more than outweigh those few negatives.
The Stingrays are continually referred to by people outside the club as a hard working team and eventually this hard work will surely pay off for the club after a tough early season schedule.
Naturally, there are areas of their game that can - and probably will - be improved. Defensively, three of four Belfast goals came from defensive turnovers in their own end. Offensively, the much mooted lack of depth is a problem, with most of the offensive reliance on Silverthorn, Rodin and Jereme Tendler, though this certainly shouldn't be a terminal problem, at least at this stage.
It is indeed, far too easy to focus on the negatives, particularly against a team like Belfast that boasts so much firepower and should be there or there abouts when the season comes to a close.
On the other side of things, tonight's improvements alongside last week's performance prove it is not impossible for the club to compete with the top teams, and also show Cloutier and team are getting to a level of performance they will be happy with, even if wins are not forthcoming.
While team work ethic, Silverthorn, Rodin, Tendler and netminder Boucher - who continues to defy early season critics - are amongst the other numerous positives, it has to be said the all around performance has improved three fold in the week since a demoralising 6-0 loss in Sheffield.
The Stingrays meet just their second none top five side of the season tomorrow night as they travel to Dundee to take on the Stars - who have lost all five of their opening league games, two in overtime.
Rays Rating
7
FBB Three Stars
1 - Jason Silverthorn (2+1)
2 - Christian Boucher (33 saves)
3 - Dmitir Rodin (0+3)
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Stingrays Five of the Best...10/11
With fixtures out, just a handful of signings remaining and little over a month and a half to go until the puck drops for the 11/12 Elite League campaign, F Block Blog is here to provide Rays fans with a refresher of what it believes were last seasons five best games.
5
26/03/11 - Stingrays 1-2 Cardiff (EIHL Playoff Quarter Final Leg 1)
It was perhaps fate that the Rays were to come up against the only EIHL opposition they hadn't beaten in 10/11 in the first round of the post-season. They took on the Cardiff Devils in just their second ever playoff appearance - the first time they have qualified in their own right - and a tense, chippy game followed as the Rays worked hard to keep it close heading into the second leg. Watch out for Tylor Michel's lovely solo opening goal!
4
03/10/11 Stingrays 3-3 Cardiff Devils
At one point it didn't look like this game would ever take place. Starting late in October following owners Mike and Sue Pack's departure, the Rays opened their 10/11 season against the very same Cardiff Devils side that would cause them so many problems later on in the season. Not a classic per se, but the Rays best result against the South Wales side all season long and an important game in that it saw the sport make an unexpected top flight return to the city after a turbulent summer. See Matti Uusivirta round off a lovely move with a clinical finish for the Rays first of the year.
3
20/03/11 Stingrays 6-1 Nottingham
The Rays saved some of their best for last as they thrashed top side Nottingham on the final weekend of the season. The Panthers - with former Rays head coach Rick Strachan at the helm - entered the weekend with little to play for and started backup Dan Green. Backup or not, the home side outplayed the big spending Nottingham outfit in all areas and deservedly came out on top.
2
04/12/10 Stingrays 7-2 Sheffield
The Steelers took a commanding 2-0 lead early on but the Stingrays came back very strongly and ran out easy winners, condemning the Steelers to their biggest ever Yorkshire derby defeat.
1
21/11/10 Stingrays 3-2 Belfast (OT)
2-0 down in the third, the Rays came back to snatch the win against another of the big spending top four, with Jason Silverthorn scoring a lovely overtime effort to seal the unlikely win.
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Understrength Rays lose second consecutive game in busy six day spell
Belfast Giants 6-3 Excel Hull Stingrays
An Excel Hull Stingrays side down to just ten skaters tonight lost out in Belfast in the second game of a hectic six day schedule that will see them take to the ice two more times this weekend.
The visitors, coming off the back of a heavy defeat in Wales to the Cardiff Devils, took a one-nil lead through Lee Mitchell, 2.41 in, however, the Giants bounced back strongly netting four times through Craig Peacock, Michael Jacobsen, Josh Prudden and Jeff Mason to all but settle the tie in favour of the title chasers.
Kurtis Dulle bagged a consolation first period goal, pulling the scoreline back to 4-2 13 minutes into the first but Brandon Benedict reopened the three goal advantage with less than six seconds remaining in the first.
Colin Hemingway then scored Belfast's sixth after a scoreless middle period but Mitchell closed out the scores with a consolation third goal to complete a fruitless but praiseworthy hardworking performance by the Rays, who were without Lee Esders, Aivars Gaisins, Ryan Lake, Jereme Tendler, Drew Bannister, Sylvain Cloutier and Craig Mitchell and whose keeper Christian Boucher faced 48 shots.
An Excel Hull Stingrays side down to just ten skaters tonight lost out in Belfast in the second game of a hectic six day schedule that will see them take to the ice two more times this weekend.
The visitors, coming off the back of a heavy defeat in Wales to the Cardiff Devils, took a one-nil lead through Lee Mitchell, 2.41 in, however, the Giants bounced back strongly netting four times through Craig Peacock, Michael Jacobsen, Josh Prudden and Jeff Mason to all but settle the tie in favour of the title chasers.
Kurtis Dulle bagged a consolation first period goal, pulling the scoreline back to 4-2 13 minutes into the first but Brandon Benedict reopened the three goal advantage with less than six seconds remaining in the first.
Colin Hemingway then scored Belfast's sixth after a scoreless middle period but Mitchell closed out the scores with a consolation third goal to complete a fruitless but praiseworthy hardworking performance by the Rays, who were without Lee Esders, Aivars Gaisins, Ryan Lake, Jereme Tendler, Drew Bannister, Sylvain Cloutier and Craig Mitchell and whose keeper Christian Boucher faced 48 shots.
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Giants power to win over Stingrays
Excel Hull Stingrays 2-5 Belfast Giants
The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight battled hard against Elite League title contenders the Belfast Giants but - having leveled the scores at 2-2 midway through the second - eventually fell to an impressive Northern Irish outfit by five goals to two.
As you would expect from a side chasing the league title, the Giants started the game with real intensity in the offensive zone and they peppered the Rays with 17 shots in the first period, thanks in part to their four powerplay opportunities.
Nevertheless, despite the visitors dominating the early stages it was the Stingrays that managed to craft the first real clear cut chance of the game as British netminder Stephen Murphy denied defenceman Drew Bannister twice within seconds to keep the scores level.
Still, the Giants again pushed forward but again the Rays created another chance as forward Konstantin Kalmikov looked to add to his goal in Sheffield last night with a big shot that squeaked through Murphy's pads only to be cleared agonisingly off the line.
After firing the best part of 17 shots on the Rays goal, Doug Christiansen's side then took a deserved lead on 12.21 as captain Josh Prudden found a way to force the puck home on the Giants third powerplay attempt of the game.
They doubled that lead again on the powerplay nearly five minutes into the second as Brandon Benedict perfectly predicted a rebound from Christian Boucher to put the puck home.
Things could have potentially been a lot worse for the Stingrays had Mike Hoffman put away a penalty shot awarded for being brought down on a breakaway, however, the sizeable Canadian's backhanded shot was denied one-on-one by a blocker save from Boucher.
The home side seemed to gain momentum from the missed opportunity and they opened their account for the nigh just 15 seconds later as a typical quick release wristshot from Kalmikov found its way home for the Ukrainian's second goal in two games.
Two successive high stick penalties awarded against the Giants then allowed the Stingrays to record their third powerplay goal in two games with Trevor Read on hand to level the scores at the back post of Murphy's goal.
The Giants quickly got themselves back in the lead however, as Dan Welch took advantage of the Rays playing four forwards on the powerplay to net a goal less than two minutes after the home team had leveled for the first time.
That goal all but killed the Stingrays off and further third period goals from Jon Gleed - who similarly to Prudden, scrappily poked the puck home - and Hoffman, who atoned for his earlier penalty shot miss by using his size to net a fine individual effort, deservedly sealed the win in favour of the hard working title chasers.
The two third period goals perhaps gave the scoreline an unfair slant in favour of the Giants, however, few in attendance could argue with the result going the way of Christiansen's side, particularly after they flew out of the gates to fire 17 first period shots on the Rays net with just four going the other way on Murphy.
Although the defeat is the Stingrays third in a row at the Hull Arena, Saturday's 4-3 win over Sheffield eases the pain of the loss and stems the run of defeats. Given last night's exploits, a defeat, particularly against the Giants, who are currently playing very well, potentially on their way to a league title, is nothing to worry about. Perhaps more worrying is that it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that the Stingrays will face the Northern Irish side in the first round of the EIHL playoffs.
The Stingrays, who lost Jereme Tendler and Ben Lowe to possibly injuries tonight, must now regroup for possibly the toughest spell of the season as they face four games in six days starting on Tuesday in Cardiff. From there Cloutier's side visit Belfast on Thursday and Coventry on Saturday before returning home on Sunday to take on a playoff chasing Newcastle side that narrowed the gap between themselves in ninth and Dundee in eighth last night with a win over the Stars.
The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight battled hard against Elite League title contenders the Belfast Giants but - having leveled the scores at 2-2 midway through the second - eventually fell to an impressive Northern Irish outfit by five goals to two.
As you would expect from a side chasing the league title, the Giants started the game with real intensity in the offensive zone and they peppered the Rays with 17 shots in the first period, thanks in part to their four powerplay opportunities.
Nevertheless, despite the visitors dominating the early stages it was the Stingrays that managed to craft the first real clear cut chance of the game as British netminder Stephen Murphy denied defenceman Drew Bannister twice within seconds to keep the scores level.
Still, the Giants again pushed forward but again the Rays created another chance as forward Konstantin Kalmikov looked to add to his goal in Sheffield last night with a big shot that squeaked through Murphy's pads only to be cleared agonisingly off the line.
After firing the best part of 17 shots on the Rays goal, Doug Christiansen's side then took a deserved lead on 12.21 as captain Josh Prudden found a way to force the puck home on the Giants third powerplay attempt of the game.
They doubled that lead again on the powerplay nearly five minutes into the second as Brandon Benedict perfectly predicted a rebound from Christian Boucher to put the puck home.
Things could have potentially been a lot worse for the Stingrays had Mike Hoffman put away a penalty shot awarded for being brought down on a breakaway, however, the sizeable Canadian's backhanded shot was denied one-on-one by a blocker save from Boucher.
The home side seemed to gain momentum from the missed opportunity and they opened their account for the nigh just 15 seconds later as a typical quick release wristshot from Kalmikov found its way home for the Ukrainian's second goal in two games.
Two successive high stick penalties awarded against the Giants then allowed the Stingrays to record their third powerplay goal in two games with Trevor Read on hand to level the scores at the back post of Murphy's goal.
The Giants quickly got themselves back in the lead however, as Dan Welch took advantage of the Rays playing four forwards on the powerplay to net a goal less than two minutes after the home team had leveled for the first time.
That goal all but killed the Stingrays off and further third period goals from Jon Gleed - who similarly to Prudden, scrappily poked the puck home - and Hoffman, who atoned for his earlier penalty shot miss by using his size to net a fine individual effort, deservedly sealed the win in favour of the hard working title chasers.
The two third period goals perhaps gave the scoreline an unfair slant in favour of the Giants, however, few in attendance could argue with the result going the way of Christiansen's side, particularly after they flew out of the gates to fire 17 first period shots on the Rays net with just four going the other way on Murphy.
Although the defeat is the Stingrays third in a row at the Hull Arena, Saturday's 4-3 win over Sheffield eases the pain of the loss and stems the run of defeats. Given last night's exploits, a defeat, particularly against the Giants, who are currently playing very well, potentially on their way to a league title, is nothing to worry about. Perhaps more worrying is that it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that the Stingrays will face the Northern Irish side in the first round of the EIHL playoffs.
The Stingrays, who lost Jereme Tendler and Ben Lowe to possibly injuries tonight, must now regroup for possibly the toughest spell of the season as they face four games in six days starting on Tuesday in Cardiff. From there Cloutier's side visit Belfast on Thursday and Coventry on Saturday before returning home on Sunday to take on a playoff chasing Newcastle side that narrowed the gap between themselves in ninth and Dundee in eighth last night with a win over the Stars.
Rays Rating
6
FBB Three Stars
1- Konstantin Kalmikov (1+0)
2- Christian Boucher (38 shots, 5 goals against)
3- Kurtis Dulle (0+0)
3- Kurtis Dulle (0+0)
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