The Excel Hull Stingrays completed their first four point weekend of the season tonight, coming back from two goals down for the second time in two games to defeat league leaders and reigning playoff champions the Belfast Giants by three goals to two in overtime.
Coming off the back of an important win in Whitley Bay, the Stingrays came out the stronger side in the first perhaps unjustly falling behind to a Josh Prudden stike, who capitalised on a rebound from experienced forward Brad Smyth.
Although the Rays edged the first, only a magnificent side-to-side save from netminder Christian Boucher to deny Brett Hemingway, at the very back post that he notched a hat-trick from on his last visit to Hull, prevented the home side from falling further behind.
As expected the league leading Giants stepped it up in the second, doubling their lead in somewhat unexpected fashion on the penalty kill through Mike Bayrack. As Doug Christiansen's side took control of the tie and continued to shut the Stingrays down offensively, Giants keeper Stephen Murphy came up big to deny Trevor Read after the Rays defenceman was presented with the biggest chance of the period.
After being offensively frustrated by the Giants for a good 49 minutes, the Rays finally broke through their opponents solid defence with ten minutes and 18 seconds remaining in the game. Matty Davies worked hard to retain possession of the puck in the corner before firing a pass to the in-form Jereme Tendler, who happily fired home to break the Giants shut out.
With their tails up, the home side went in search of the all important game-tying goal and, after an unsuccessful powerplay attempt, they eventually took the game to overtime. With 24 seconds remaining and with Boucher pulled for the extra outskater coach Sylvain Cloutier jubilantly netted at the back post on a pass from that man Tendler to claim at least a point for the Stingrays.
In overtime, four-on-four the Rays surprisingly had the edge over a speedy Giants side, most likely due to the massive momentum swing of their two late goals.
Murphy was forced to make a miracle diving save to keep his side in the game midway through OT before, 40 seconds prior to the commencement of a shootout, Jason Silverthorn popped up to impossibly slot the puck home, coolly and calmly, to send a jubilant Hull Arena into a frenzy and claim the extra point for the Rays.
The win sealed the club's first four point weekend and first two game winning streak of the season, and catapults them four points ahead of the Dundee, Edinburgh and Newcastle chasing group in seventh with at least four games in hand on all four teams.
The Rays, now riding on a wave of confidence having beaten the Elite League table toppers, must guard against complacency with new signing and former NHLer Drew Bannister due in on Tuesday ahead of a televised Sky clash in Cardiff on Friday night and home league fixture against Nottingham on Sunday
FBB Rating
8.5
FBB Three Stars
1- Christian Boucher (39 saves, 41 shots)
2- Jereme Tendler (1+2)
3- Jason Silverthorn (1+1)
