V
Saturday 24th October: Excel Hull Stingrays (7th) v Coventry Blaze (4th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 5.30pm (Challenge Cup)Sunday 25th October: Edinburgh Capitals (8th) v Excel Hull Stingrays (7th), F/O 6.30pm
Form
Stingrays: W OTL L L L
Coventry: L W W W L
Edinburgh: L W L L L
Last 3 Meetings
v Coventry
08/03/09 1-4 W A
20/09/09 4-2 L A
17/10/09 5-4 L A
v Edinburgh
22/03/09 5-8 L H
19/09/09 2-9 L H
03/10/09 4-1 W H
Season Series
v Coventry: 0-2, 6 GF, 9 GA
v Edinburgh: 1-1, 6 GF, 10 GA
Players to Watch
Stingrays: George Halkidis (Debut) Another weekend, another debut for the Stingrays as defenceman Halkidis joins a week after the arrival of Jason Silverthorn. For both his and the Stingrays sake, it will be hoped that his debut lasts a little longer than Silverthorn's 40 minutes. Halkidis has had three good years in Italy and, although he had a year out to recover from major shoulder surgery last year, it is another body for a continually frail looking squad.
Coventry: Luke Fulghum (12GP 6+8) The former Manchester forward, who last season combined with Tony Hand for 34 goals and 84 points in 67 games, registered the game winning goal as the Blaze came from behind to beat the Rays last Saturday. He is currently one of Paul Thompson's in-form player, with at least a point in his last seven games, during which period he has bagged 12 points.
Edinburgh: Simon Lambert (8 GP 4+9) After starting the season with a hat-trick in the Caps 9-2 thrashing of the Stingrays, the goals have largely dried up for Lambert with just one in the following seven games. The Capitals will need his goals if they are to end a tough patch of form, but the signing of Jeff Hutchins will bring them back towards full strength and make them, once again, a tough opponent.
Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (13GP, 4.33GAA, 90.2 sv%) The Swede was peppered with 90 shots in two games last weekend, including 48 in Coventry's tight come-from-behind win over the Rays. After having eight goals fired past him on Sunday at home to Belfast, Sandahl will want to hit back with victories over the Blaze and Capitals this weekend.
Coventry: Tom Murdy (Debut) The 18 year old Brit will make his competitive debut for the Blaze in relief of Peter Hirsch, who Paul Thompson has decided to rest with his side all but out of the Challenge Cup. He was signed from the Whitley Warriors in the summer to replace Stephen Fone and the young prospect is certain to face a tough first start, with the Rays desperate to make the semis.
Edinburgh: Cody Rudkowski (8GP, 4GAA, 89 sv%) Rudkowski, impressive in the first handful of Capitals games this season, has tailed off in line with the Scottish sides dip in form in recent weeks. With just eight imports in front of him, the Canadian let his frustrations get the better of him last weekend, fighting Belfast forward Pat Bateman in the third period. Prior to his scrap he had allowed seven goals as the Giants hit eight or more goals for the first of two times in the weekend.
Absentees
Stingrays: Lee Mitchell (doubt; knee), Jason Silverthorn (doubt; broken jaw), James Hutchinson (broken hand), Pavel Gomenyuk (fractured rib)
Coventry: Danny Stewart (doubt; broken toe), Tom Watkins (doubt; lower body), Derek Campbell (doubt; rib), Dan Carlson (doubt; personal reasons)
Edinburgh: Doug Christiansen (broken patella)
News
- The Stingrays third mid-season signing, George Halkidis, will make his debut against the Blaze on Saturday night after a year out due to surgery. The Canadian, who has Greek heritage, was signed after initially joining Port Huron and replaces Pavel Gomenyuk in the lineup after the Ukrainian was ruled out for five-to-six weeks with a fractured rib, sustained against Coventry last weekend.
- Edinburgh will hand a second debut to Jeff Hutchins following his signing this week. After failing to sign a tenth import, the long-term injury to Doug Christiansen in the Caps first game of the season in Hull left the team with just eight imports for the first month of the season. However, following his timely release from Sheffield, Hutchins has agreed to return to Scotland, where he last season recorded eight points in six games before leaving for Newcastle. He currently holds the record for icing for the most EIHL sides, with his stint in Sheffield seeing him ice for five of eight top flight teams.
- The Stingrays are still not mathematically knocked out of the EIHL Challenge Cup. They face two must-win ties against Coventry (this Saturday) and Cardiff (next Saturday), while they must also hope that Cardoff lose their other fixture in the competition if they are to qualify for the semis. The Rays have never progressed past the group stage of this competition in their three year Elite League stint and, although the injury curse will not help the club's cause, whether they win or not, they will look to use these fixtures to regain some much needed momentum.
- The Blaze will be resting starting netminder Peter Hirsch on Saturday and giving 18 year old back up Tom Murdy the start.
Predictions
Stingrays 2-3 Coventry
Edinburgh 2-4 Stingrays
