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Sunday 14th December: Edinburgh Capitals v Excel Hull Stingrays @ Murrayfield Ice Rink, 6pmForm
Stingrays- L W L W L
Edinburgh- L L L L L
Last 3 Meetings
24/09/08 4-2 W H
08/11/08 1-6 L H
16/11/08 3-7 L A
Players to Watch
Stingrays- Lee Mitchell (29GP 5+14 31PIM)- Scored two goals and four assists in two games against the Basingstoke Bison last weekend, recording a goal and two assists in each game, whilst he sits just one point from a season high in Elite League points.
Edinburgh- Mark Hurtubise (32GP 15+31 38PIM)- Has recorded five goals in his last three games for the Capitals as well as a least a point in his last 11 games. Leads the Capitals in goals, assists and points.
Absentees
Stingrays- Troy Neumeier (torn ligament), Slava Koulikov (doubtful; lower body), Paul Moran (shoulder), Stuart Kerr (knee)
Edinburgh- Full Strength
Other stuff
-The season series between the Capitals and the Stingrays currently sits at 2-2. The Stingrays won the opening two games 3-2 and 4-2 respectively before the Capitals romped home in the last two games with 6-1 and 7-3 wins.
- Slava Koulikov will return to action on Sunday after sitting out part of Sunday's game against the Bison in the Challenge Cup after suffering a minor low body injury.
- The Stingrays will be down to two defencemen this weekend with Troy Neumeier, Paul Moran and Stuart Kerr all out. The Stingrays management could have a replacement British defenceman in before Sunday's game and are continuing to search for an import replacement for Neumeier however in the mean time Steve Slonina will most likely continue on the blueline with Konstantin Kalmikov, who is expected to step back into defence.
- The Capitals have extended the trial of Czech forward Roman Nesrsta by a further two weeks after he impressed head coach Doug Christiansen during his initial two week trial.
-Edinburgh are currently last in the league in Overtime/Shootout decisions with no wins in their five attempts.
Prediction
Edinburgh 4-3 Stingrays
