23rd September Mid-Week Preview

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Wednesday 26th September: Belfast Giants (3rd) v Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) @ Dundonald Ice Bowl, F/O 7.30pm

Form
Stingrays: D W L L L
Belfast: W L W L L

Last 3 Meetings
v Belfast
28/12/08 3-4 OTL H
28/02/09 8-6 L A
08/09/09 2-3 L H

Season Series
v Belfast: 0-1, 2GF, 3GA

Players to Watch
Stingrays: Matty Davies (5GP 1+2) The young Brit has grabbed the opportunity for a regular shift with both hands, performing admirably whilst filling in for suspended forwards Adam Knight and Curtis Huppe. Assisting on the Rays only two goals against Edinburgh, including one brilliant set up for Jeff Glowa to slot home, he followed that up with his first goal for the club against Coventry.

Belfast: Pat Batemen (6GP 3+1) The Canadian's arrival in Northern Ireland was somewhat overshadowed by the signing of Pierre-Luc Faubert in the summer, however the Canadian is proving to be just as good a finisher as his French-Canadian teammate. He recorded his first goals of the season against Coventry last weekend, eventually bagging a hat-trick as the Giants very nearly came from three goals down in their 5-4 loss against the Blaze.

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (5GP, 89.8 sv%, 5.25 GAA) He was pulled in the thrashing against Edinburgh through no fault of his own, with much of the Rays defence, going AWOL. He responded to that disappointment well with a 40 save effort in the tight loss in the Skydome on Sunday.

Belfast: Stephen Murphy (3GP, 91.3 sv%, 3.5 GAA) The Giants are one of the few teams to have a genuine one-two punch between the pipes with two good British netminders, meaning either could start against the Stingrays. Stats wise, Murphy has the edge over Craze, however the younger former Bracknell keeper has started more games and is argueably the starting choice against the Rays.

Absentees
Stingrays: Lee Mitchell (knee), Ryan Jorde (broken arm), Curtis Huppe (suspended), Adam Knight (suspended)
Belfast: Full Strength

What coaches say...
Cloutier (Stingrays)

"Belfast have a lot of firepower so we have to keep it simple and smart. We have to keep the puck out of the neutral zone, chip it off the boards and go to get it, and do nothing fancy. We won the last 50, but lost the first 10 against Belfast last time. They caught us sleeping and scored two goals, but hopefully that type of thing has been fixed after Sunday's performance."

Thornton (Belfast)

“Hull is a big test for us and a must win. Losing is not acceptable here in Belfast and last weekend was a dissapointing team effort. I expect more of everyone and the pressure is on for success or changes will be made.”

Prediction
Belfast 5-3 Stingrays