The Excel Hull Stingrays blew a two goal lead for the second time in two games tonight, losing out by six goals to three to the Nottingham Panthers after holding a deserved 3-1 lead heading into the third.
Despite the final scoreline, it was the Stingrays that came out of the traps quicker, as it took them less than 15 seconds to test the generally solid Kevin St-Pierre in the Panthers net for the first time. Former Hull defenceman Stevie Lee gifting the puck to Jason Silverthorn early on, who broke in on St-Pierre with Lee Mitchell, only for the pair to be denied on two occasions.
It was an energetic and efficient opening from both sides, but particularly the Stingrays, who were particularly effective in their own zone, stifling the Panthers significant offensive threat.
The big chance of the first period came around the 14 minute mark as the Panthers D misjudged a long pass from the Stingrays defensive corps, giving Matty Davies the chance to glove the puck and take it in one-on-one. St-Pierre, though, would part-expertly, part-fortuitously save the Panthers blushes by tipping the shot onto the bar and over the plexi leaving the first period goalless.
To the dismay of the home side, it was the Panthers that struck the crucial first goal, as the deadly combination of Sean McAslan and Jade Galbraith combined on the powerplay with the latter redirecting a pinpoint pass-come-shot from former to net the opening goal.
Four minutes later, however, the Rays found themselves back on level terms thanks to some individual genius from the evergreen Jeff Glowa. The Stingrays club captain picked the puck up on his own blueline and menacingly skated forward across the red line, blueline, past two Panthers before deking over and around the remaining defencemen and slotting past the helpless St-Pierre, a typically Glowa goal.
That naturally sparked the Stingrays into a frenzy, as they hit goals number two and three within seven minutes of Glowa's incredible individual effort.
First, a dangerous pass across the face of the Panthers net from Lee Mitchell saw Konstantin Kalmikov bundle the puck home at the back post as another Panthers defensive breakdown allowed the Stingrays another odd-man rush, then, with less than two minutes on the clock in the second, Curtis Huppe let rip from the top of the circle, surprising and beating St-Pierre down low to hand the Rays a two goal advantage.
As opposed to their last visit to Hull, the Panthers were ready and waiting for the Stingrays to begin the third period, and that psychological advantage would eventually pay dividends for the visiting side as a David Clarke double and another from Galbraith would give the Panthers a 4-3 lead and firm control of the game with less than five minutes gone in the final period.
The Stingrays had gone mentally, and with player-coach Sylvain Cloutier in the box serving a 2+10 penalty after a failed bout with Panthers defenceman Danny Meyers, they had little or no control over what they did about conceding so many goals in such a short period of time.
They had no reply and the Panthers helped themselves to two further goals from Cameron Mann and McAslan to give the game a harsh slant in favour of the Panthers.
The double loss this weekend, both of which came with the Stingrays leading by two goals, coupled with next-bottom Sheffield's 8-0 demolition of Edinburgh extends the gap between seventh and eighth place in the Elite League to six points with the Rays set to face Coventry home-and-away next weekend.
Stingrays Stats
Goalscorers: Glowa, Kalmikov, Huppe
Sandahl: 37 shots, 6 goals against
SOG: 28-37
PIM: 22-32
Good
A cracking first two periods in which the Rays played some of their best, most disciplined hockey of the season so far. Jeff Glowa's single handed effort, one of the best in that the Hull Arena has seen in recent years.
Bad
The worst collapse from two goals up. Sylvain Cloutier v Danny Meyers so-called fight, costing the Rays their coach when they most needed him during the heart of their collapse.
F Block Blog MOM
Stingrays: Jeff Glowa (1+0) Glowa would have walked away with this MOM award even if he hadn't taken on, and beaten, four Panthers before netting the Rays opener. As it is, he did single-handedly beat four Nottingham players and slot home past Kevin St-Pierre to score one of his finest goals in a Rays shirt and to round of a typically determined performance that ultimately didn't reap the reward it deserved.
Nottingham: Jade Galbraith (1+2) It wasn't the first and certainly won't be the last time that the Alberta native will come away with all of the plaudits in a Stingrays-Panthers match up. He was the force behind much of the Panthers third period showing, clinically turning it on when the result looked most in doubt for the visiting side.
Stingrays Verdict: 5/10
A near perfect opening two periods was completely ruined by a horrific third period showing, as the Rays leaked five unanswered goals in a devastating final 20 minutes.
Defensively they opened the game well, Stephen Burns, who was solid throughout, leading the way as he has done in recent weeks. However, a number of defensive errors, some of which were made up for, some of which weren't, as well as two delay-of-game penalties, saw the defence put in a below average shift in the final two periods.
The good news continues to come up front, with big name forwards Kalmikov, Glowa and Huppe all registering this game, but it is obvious that this loss did not come form the team's defence, or lack of it, or a lack of goals but a simple lack of concentration at a crucial period of the game.
While the first and second saw some of the best Rays hockey of the season, the third period collapse is inexcusable for any side, but especially against that team at this point in the season. A different night but the same story from Saturday night it would seem.
Cloutier's Comments
Despite the final scoreline, it was the Stingrays that came out of the traps quicker, as it took them less than 15 seconds to test the generally solid Kevin St-Pierre in the Panthers net for the first time. Former Hull defenceman Stevie Lee gifting the puck to Jason Silverthorn early on, who broke in on St-Pierre with Lee Mitchell, only for the pair to be denied on two occasions.
It was an energetic and efficient opening from both sides, but particularly the Stingrays, who were particularly effective in their own zone, stifling the Panthers significant offensive threat.
The big chance of the first period came around the 14 minute mark as the Panthers D misjudged a long pass from the Stingrays defensive corps, giving Matty Davies the chance to glove the puck and take it in one-on-one. St-Pierre, though, would part-expertly, part-fortuitously save the Panthers blushes by tipping the shot onto the bar and over the plexi leaving the first period goalless.
To the dismay of the home side, it was the Panthers that struck the crucial first goal, as the deadly combination of Sean McAslan and Jade Galbraith combined on the powerplay with the latter redirecting a pinpoint pass-come-shot from former to net the opening goal.
Four minutes later, however, the Rays found themselves back on level terms thanks to some individual genius from the evergreen Jeff Glowa. The Stingrays club captain picked the puck up on his own blueline and menacingly skated forward across the red line, blueline, past two Panthers before deking over and around the remaining defencemen and slotting past the helpless St-Pierre, a typically Glowa goal.
That naturally sparked the Stingrays into a frenzy, as they hit goals number two and three within seven minutes of Glowa's incredible individual effort.
First, a dangerous pass across the face of the Panthers net from Lee Mitchell saw Konstantin Kalmikov bundle the puck home at the back post as another Panthers defensive breakdown allowed the Stingrays another odd-man rush, then, with less than two minutes on the clock in the second, Curtis Huppe let rip from the top of the circle, surprising and beating St-Pierre down low to hand the Rays a two goal advantage.
As opposed to their last visit to Hull, the Panthers were ready and waiting for the Stingrays to begin the third period, and that psychological advantage would eventually pay dividends for the visiting side as a David Clarke double and another from Galbraith would give the Panthers a 4-3 lead and firm control of the game with less than five minutes gone in the final period.
The Stingrays had gone mentally, and with player-coach Sylvain Cloutier in the box serving a 2+10 penalty after a failed bout with Panthers defenceman Danny Meyers, they had little or no control over what they did about conceding so many goals in such a short period of time.
They had no reply and the Panthers helped themselves to two further goals from Cameron Mann and McAslan to give the game a harsh slant in favour of the Panthers.
The double loss this weekend, both of which came with the Stingrays leading by two goals, coupled with next-bottom Sheffield's 8-0 demolition of Edinburgh extends the gap between seventh and eighth place in the Elite League to six points with the Rays set to face Coventry home-and-away next weekend.
Stingrays Stats
Goalscorers: Glowa, Kalmikov, Huppe
Sandahl: 37 shots, 6 goals against
SOG: 28-37
PIM: 22-32
Good
A cracking first two periods in which the Rays played some of their best, most disciplined hockey of the season so far. Jeff Glowa's single handed effort, one of the best in that the Hull Arena has seen in recent years.
Bad
The worst collapse from two goals up. Sylvain Cloutier v Danny Meyers so-called fight, costing the Rays their coach when they most needed him during the heart of their collapse.
F Block Blog MOM
Stingrays: Jeff Glowa (1+0) Glowa would have walked away with this MOM award even if he hadn't taken on, and beaten, four Panthers before netting the Rays opener. As it is, he did single-handedly beat four Nottingham players and slot home past Kevin St-Pierre to score one of his finest goals in a Rays shirt and to round of a typically determined performance that ultimately didn't reap the reward it deserved.
Nottingham: Jade Galbraith (1+2) It wasn't the first and certainly won't be the last time that the Alberta native will come away with all of the plaudits in a Stingrays-Panthers match up. He was the force behind much of the Panthers third period showing, clinically turning it on when the result looked most in doubt for the visiting side.
Stingrays Verdict: 5/10
A near perfect opening two periods was completely ruined by a horrific third period showing, as the Rays leaked five unanswered goals in a devastating final 20 minutes.
Defensively they opened the game well, Stephen Burns, who was solid throughout, leading the way as he has done in recent weeks. However, a number of defensive errors, some of which were made up for, some of which weren't, as well as two delay-of-game penalties, saw the defence put in a below average shift in the final two periods.
The good news continues to come up front, with big name forwards Kalmikov, Glowa and Huppe all registering this game, but it is obvious that this loss did not come form the team's defence, or lack of it, or a lack of goals but a simple lack of concentration at a crucial period of the game.
While the first and second saw some of the best Rays hockey of the season, the third period collapse is inexcusable for any side, but especially against that team at this point in the season. A different night but the same story from Saturday night it would seem.
Cloutier's Comments
"Yes I'm annoyed, as we should have won. I watched from the penalty box, I had a clear view of it all unfolding. We're 3-1 up after two perfect periods and then we go and do that. The players got away from the game plan.
"You can't be assuming guys will get the puck and clear it out, you have to take care of your defensive zone, like we did in the first two periods. You can't just criticise guys, you have to give them a pat on the back too.
"You have to take the positives, and that is for two periods we out-played Nottingham. They are one of the top teams in the league, but you have to make those break-aways count. Their netminder made some big saves otherwise it could have been 3-0 or 4-2, but that's the way it goes. I don't think you can fault Tommy. The guys in front of him have to pick up their man."
