Excel Hull Stingrays 2-3 Cardiff Devils
The Excel Hull Stingrays will finish the 09/10 season in 8th place after their penultimate league tie ended in a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Cardiff Devils, their second 3-2 loss in two home games against the Welsh side.
The result put an end to the Rays hopes of over throwing the three point gap to the seventh placed Newcastle Vipers, with just two points available in their final game of the season against the Sheffield Steelers, and ended their hopes of finishing with a 500. record at home.
The Rays and Devils exchanged first period powerplay markers through Jeff Glowa, assisted by Pavel Gomenyuk and netminder Martins Raitums, and Mark Richardson, however, it was the Devils that deserved to lead, outshooting the Stingrays 12 to 5 and largely dominating proceedings with an aggressive forecheck and uptempo play.
The home side started the game slowly in the first period and they continued that theme in the second as the Devils took the lead 25 seconds in through defenceman Mike Hartwick. The Rays eventually began to improve and Jason Silverthorn levelled the scores again after working hard on the forecheck to disposess the Devils defence just prior to the 28 minute mark.
Lacklustre play returned to the Stingrays game in the third period and Phil Hill would net to deservedly earn the side from South Wales the two points, their second tight 3-2 success over the Stingrays in two games at the Hull Arena.
Home fans left disappointed after the potential that had been evident in the Stingrays last nine home games, in which they had claimed seven wins, failed to materialise. Likewise, the chance to play a Devils side minus two catalysts of their team, Brad Voth and Ryan Finnerty, must have been appealing to Sylvain Cloutier and his management team, however, they must now be regretting a missed opportunity to prevent a second ever wooden spoon for the Rays.
In all honesty it was a poor performance from a side that was so confident after a brilliant run of form following last months 9-0 loss to Belfast. Raitums in the Stingrays net was once again solid and Stephen Burns was one of the few players willing to play physical against a normally chippy Cardiff side, while Jason Silverthorn was dogged in offence, however, notable performances other than those listed were few and far between.
Coventry's overtime win over Edinburgh handed Paul Thompson's side the Elite League title for the fourth time in the leagues seven year history with one game to spare and, coupled with the Rays loss, confirmed that Cloutier will meet his former side Coventry in the quarter finals of the Elite League playoff, the Stingrays first foray into the EIHL post-season.
The Stingrays will now look to close out their best ever Elite League season in form with a series levelling fourth victory of the season over the Sheffield Steelers before progressing to their first playoff double header against champions elect Coventry next week.
F Block Blog MOM: Jason Silverthorn (1+0)
SOG: 25-36
PIM: 8-14
Cloutier's Comments: "We have to respond better tomorrow. We owe it to ourselves and our fans. We have to come out and have a big game. It was shakey, it pretty much lacking in intensity. For some reason Cardiff have given us our hardest time this season. Fortunately we don't have to face them again this season – unless we reach the final four. I'm glad that one has gone."
