Saturday 3rd October: Excel Hull Stingrays (8th) v Edinburgh Capitals (7th) @ Hull Arena, F/O 5.30pm
Form
Stingrays: L L L L L
Edinburgh: W OTL L
Last 3 Meetings
v Edinburgh
14/12/08 3-2 L A
22/03/09 5-8 L H
19/09/09 2-9 L H
Season Series
v Edinburgh: 0-1, 2 GF, 9 GA
Players to Watch
Stingrays: Curtis Huppe (3GP 0+1) The Canadian assistant coach really needs to make up for lost time, after missing five games through suspension. Prior to the ban he looked a shadow of his former 30-goal self, recording just one assist in three outings, but with three weeks training, and plenty of time to reflect on his out of character actions in Cardiff, Sylvain Cloutier and his goal-shy side will hope the time off may have relit the fire beneath him.
Edinburgh: Owen Fussey (3GP 4+2) After exploding onto the 09/10 EIHL scene against the Stingrays, the Capitals have slowed since, losing in overtime against the Panthers before being blown away by Belfast. Fussey, however, has remained constant in the Caps offensive drive. Recording at least a goal in each of the Caps opening three EIHL games, although he has been somewhat overshadowed by the speedy Simon Lambert. Nevertheless, he has played in the NHL and he will certainly remain a constant threat all season long.
Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Tommy Sandahl (8GP, 90.2 sv%, 4.57 GAA) Some stats to start, to reiterate how impressive Sandahl has been behind a leaky defence. He has yet to face less than 35 shots a night, faces an average of 40 shots, faced 50 shots against Cardiff and, in total, has faced 327 shots so far this season. Luckily reinforcements are on their way for the Swede, who has recorded just one win in EIHL action, and if he keeps up this form behind that defence, then he should increase that number of victories soon.
Edinburgh: Cody Rudkowski (3GP, 88.3 sv%, 4 GAA) He has impressed fans league wide so far and performed well in difficult circumstances against the Toronto Marlies last weekend. He, like Sandahl for the Stingrays, will need to continue to be equally as good for the Capitals this weekend and right throughout the season if the Scots are to pull up any trees.
Absentees
Stingrays: Ryan Jorde (broken arm), Lee Mitchell (doubt; knee), Jeff Glowa (doubt; neck), James Hutchinson (doubt; hand)
Edinburgh: Doug Christiansen (broken patella)
News
- These two sides last met two weeks ago, and what a first fixture of the season it was for the Capitals, as the Stingrays capitulated to a 9-2 loss that coach Sylvain Cloutier vowed would never happen again. In fairness, last time out the Stingrays fought back admirably from 3-0 down to bring it to within one goal, before a Capitals goal seconds later destroyed the team's spirit. But with players back from suspension and with the threat of the axe fresh in the memory, the Rays should bring an improved showing this time out.
- The Capitals failed to win a game in last weekend's Hockeys homecoming tournament, featuring two AHL sides. After losing out to the AHL's Toronto Marlies by six goals to one in the semi final, the Caps were easily beaten 6-2 by the Belfast Giants in a game that ended up being a Challenge Cup Group A game.
- The Stingrays search for a new player seemingly began and ended in double quick time this week. Defenceman James Sanford has been signed to replace injured Ryan Jorde but will miss this weekend's games and make his debut next week against Nottingham.
- To go with injuries to Lee Mitchell and Ryan Jorde, captain Jeff Glowa and British defenceman James Hutchinson have also had injury concerns in the last week. Hutchinson went for a scan on his hand after injuring it against the Panthers, with the scan revealed that it was not broken as first feared, whilst Glowa has continued to feel the effects of the check on him from Cardiff's Tylor Michel three weeks ago. Both are doubts for this weekend.
- The EIHL's Hocktoberfest begins on Sunday, the Stingrays face off at 11am and if they win against hosts Sheffield, could progress to the semi final against either Belfast or Cardiff. The tournament is seen as ice hockey's version of cricket's 20/Twenty in that it is a shorter, more dynamic version of the game. All eight EIHL teams will be featured, with the inaugural EIHL Hocktoberfest champions being crowned at around 7.40pm.
Predictions
Stingrays 4-3 Edinburgh
