V
Saturday 17th October: Coventry Blaze (4th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (7th) @ Coventry Skydome, F/O 7pmSunday 18th October: Excel Hull Stingrays (7th) v Belfast Giants (3rd) @ Hull Arena, F/O 6pm
Form
Stingrays: L L W OTL L
Coventry: W L L W W
Belfast: W D L W PSL
Last 3 Meetings
v Coventry
31/01/09 2-6 L H
08/03/09 1-4 W A
20/09/09 4-2 L A
v Belfast
28/02/09 8-6 L A
08/09/09 2-3 L H
23/09/09 4-0 L A
Season Series
v Coventry: 0-1, 2 GF, 4 GA
v Belfast: 0-2, 2 GF, 7 GA
Players to Watch
Stingrays: Jason Silverthorn (Debut) The Canadian will be making his debut for the Stingrays this weekend primarily in the relief of Matt Reynolds, who was let go by Sylvain Cloutier. He has 150 points in three Elite League season's and will be required to fill the net for the goal shy Stingrays. With 19, 25 and 21 goal season's for Edinburgh and Cardiff respectively, it is more than likely he will fill, at least part of, the void for Cloutier.
Coventry: Greg Chambers (10GP 7+10) After initial doubts about the dual nationals weight and the pressure he will be under to perform, unlike his time in Basingstoke, he has settled in well to the new surroundings of the Skydome. Last weekend he recorded two goals and three assists as the Blaze rediscovered their form against Nottingham and Sheffield.
Belfast: Tom Walsh (12GP 0+1) The defenceman was brought in with a reputation as a offensive defenceman, after a year in the AHL in 07/08 where he scored 36 points in 76 games, however he has yet to replicate that form in Northern Ireland. With just one assist to his name, his form from his spell in the Finnish top flight last season, where he recorded just four assists in 30 games, seems to be continuing. Needless to say, the Giants will be hoping he re-finds his AHL form, and soon.
Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (11GP, 91.1sv %, 3.9GAA) Another solid weekend from the Swede as he stopped 34 of 37 shots fired on him during games against the Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers. Week on week he is improving, so hopefully, sooner or later, the players in front of him will provide him with better figures than 2-9 win-loss record that he current owns.
Coventry: Peter Hirsch (10GP, 91.1sv%, 2.9GAA) After tussling at opposite ends last season, Hirsch is in another numbers battle with Rays netminder Tommy Sandahl. The Stingrays netminder won out last year, but Hirsch, who has impressively led the Blaze from the rear this year, has a superior goals against average this term by one full goal. He has been on of the top EIHL netties so far this year.
Belfast: Stephen Murphy (9GP, 91.5 sv%, 2.88 GAA) Fears over a summer injury to his knee have been allayed by a solid start to the season personally. After missing a couple of games early doors, he took over from Nathan Craze with relative ease and, although the Giants are yet to hit top form, it is through a lack of goals scored, rather than goals against.
Absentees
Stingrays: Lee Mitchell (doubt; knee), Pavel Gomenyuk (doubt; back)
Coventry: Full Strength
Belfast: George Awada (shoulder)
News
- Saturday will see the debut of Canadian forward Jason Silverthorn, following the departure of Matt Reynolds. The 30 year old will be making his third Elite League debut after spells with Edinburgh and Cardiff. He started the season in the ECHL with Johnstown but was released by the Cheifs a week ago.
- Pavel Gomenyuk and Lee Mitchell are both doubts for this game. Gomenyuk has been struggling with a back injury, whilst Mitchell continues his battle for fitness after a knee injury put him out of the Rays opening Elite League fixtures.
- The Belfast Giants have had some trouble finding a replacement for long term injury worry George Awada. Veteran Awada is expected to be out for a number of months after injuring his shoulder on opening night against Nottingham and the Giants had replaced him with Bobby Robins, who signed a contract to return to Northern Ireland, after spending the season there last year. However, after signing on the dotted line, Robins backed out and joined a team in the Austrian top flight. There had been speculation that Jeff Hutchins, just released by Sheffield, would make a temporary return, however Hutchins next destination, which may yet be the Stingrays, has not yet been revealed.
Predictions
Coventry 4-2 Stingrays
Stingrays 4-3 Belfast
