Excel Hull Stingrays 1-2 Coventry Blaze
The Coventry Blaze edged the Excel Hull Stingrays 2-1 in a tense, uptempo first Elite League Quarter Final tonight with just a Greg Chambers goal separating the sides.
The Stingrays, playing in their first ever playoff game in the EIHL, clearly valued the crucial first goal and they matched the title winning Blaze in an exciting, end-to-end first period. The action on the ice was matched, if not by the attendance in the Hull Arena, which was somewhat disappointing in comparison to the final regular season game against Sheffield, then by the atmosphere that a good Coventry following and loud home crowd produced.
The second was similarly tight, although it was the home side that opened up the better with a series of huge chances that could have seen them lead. Player-assistant coach Curtis Huppe was particularly guilty of missing one or two chances after he had been gifted a couple of the opportunities produced as the Blaze defence went AWOL for a short period of time.
The Rays could not put that first goal home and they would go on to rue those missed chances in the 34th minute as Luke Fulghum bagged yet another goal against the Stingrays, his 13th of the season, on the powerplay after Lee Esders committed a preventable interference penalty behind play.
Sylvain Cloutier's side formed a quick fire response less than 30 seconds later as Konstantin Kalmikov scored the Rays first ever playoff goal after Jason Silverthorn had found himself with the enough time, space and composure in front of Peter Hirsch to make the pass to Ukrainian Kalmikov unmarked at the side of the net.
Both sides and sets of fans were understandably nervy in the final period, aware that any mistake would give the other the advantage heading into the second leg in Coventry.
Unfortunately for home fans it would be Lee Esders that would make the crucial mistake, once again being called by referee Andy Carson, this time for tripping. On the ensuing powerplay GB and Blaze forward Greg Chambers intentionally fired a shot at Stingrays keeper Martins Raitums from an acute angle behind the goal line and netted the game winning goal on 47 minutes.
Blaze coach Paul Thompson, believing that a one goal lead heading into the second leg would be enough, ensured that his side remained defensively solid for the final minutes of the game, shutting out the Stingrays in front of the impressive Hirsch.
Both sides now gear themselves up for what could potentially be the final time this season at the Skydome Arena tomorrow night with the Blaze one goal to the good and the Stingrays needing two goals to qualify for the final four in Nottingham next weekend.
F Block Blog MOM: Sylvain Cloutier (0+1)
SOG: 31-35
PIM: 10-14
Cloutier's Comments: "We're happy we are still in the game, that was important for us. Coventry are the best team in the league and we kept it close in the first leg. I told the guys before the first leg 'this is like game six, we have to stay alive and then play game seven on the road and then anything can happen. We've got to turn the page and get ready for the second leg."
