Excel Hull Stingrays 1-7 Manchester Phoenix
The Elite League's top scorer, David Beauregard, gave the Excel Hull Stingrays a lesson in finishing in the third meeting of the season between the Rays and the Manchester Phoenix tonight at the Hull Arena.
The Stingrays opened the scoring early in the first period and were playing with the confidence that seemed to have deserted them during their seven game losing streak. However as soon as Beauregard scored his league leading 25th and 26th of the season, giving the Phoenix a 2-1 lead, the Stingrays looked all at sea. Setting up Beauregard's 25th was 41 year old British forward Tony Hand who, in the process, recorded the 4000th point of his 27 year career a remarkable feat and one we are unlikely to ever see again.
Beauregard rounded off a well taken hat trick on 56 minutes after a double from Luke Fulghum and a solitary goal from Kenton Smith saw the Phoenix extend their lead to 6-1. There was still time however for Fulghum to secure a third period hat trick of his own just 50 seconds after Beauregard with the game finishing at 7-1.
The Stingrays have now lost eight games in a row and face a second place Belfast Giants side tomorrow night at the Hull Arena (5.30pm) with rumour of unforced changes circling the rink tonight.
Best Moment: Slava Koulikov giving the Stingrays a 1-0 lead.
Worst Moment: The third period Stingrays collapse.
F Block MOM- Stingrays- Steve Slonina (0+0), Manchester- David Beauregard (3+3)
Stingrays verdict- (2/10)- Whilst the Rays started the game well with a fairly positive penalty kill and powerplay, as well as the lead through a 3 minute Slava Koulikov goal, they eventually proved that Manchester's superior finishing was far too much for them. The third period collapse was too much for many fans with the majority of the Stingrays chasing shadows in the final period. Just two players come away with any form of credit from the game with those players being the ever hardworking Jeff Glowa and the revitalised forward turned defenceman Steve Slonina. There were far too many players that went missing tonight for the Stingrays and that was evident in the dominance the Phoenix had, tomorrow night will show if the team learn from their mistakes or if they will once again collapse.
Strachans verdict-"The guys are not feeling good right now. But the same thing happened last weekend, we lost 5-0 to Manchester, but then responded well on Sunday against Nottingham. We'd better respond well again this time."
