The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight battled their way to a one goal victory over the so far impressive Braehead Clan with forward Jereme Tendler netting the vital game tying and game winning goals in the final period.
The home side, clearly victim of a few choice words from coach Sylvain Cloutier pre-game after their 9-4 capitulation to Dundee last time out, began with a spring in their step penning the Glasgow based side in their own end for large periods of the first, deservedly racing into an all too rare two goal lead.
James Archer, beginning his second two-way contract with Hull in two years having decided against joining them permanently in the summer, provided the Rays with extra spark and enthusiasm and, after scoring on his debut last year, netted again just 93 seconds into his first appearance this season.
Continuing their promising first period play against a big, fast Braehead side, Matti Uusivirta then skillfully redirected an Andrew Coburn point shot to double the Stingrays lead on just three minutes.
However, the talking point of the game came after 17 minutes with the Rays 2-0 up as the Stingrays Lee Mitchell, who would eventually come away from the game with a Gordie Howe hat trick, and the Clans player-coach Bruce Richardson dropped the gloves for a fight of pint sized proportions. Although Richardson started undoubtedly the stronger, tying up Mitchell's stronger arm, the Scot fought back admirably, arguably edging the fight to send the Hull Arena into a frenzy heading towards the first intermission.
That lead ultimately saw the Rays home, however, despite outshooting Braehead 26-11 in the second, the Clan won the second period 3-1 to tie the score at three.
Early on, Clan defenceman Mattieu Walthier tamely fired a wrist shot past Christian Boucher from the point to pull one back for his side seconds after the home side had killed a 5-on-3 and then 5-on-4 penalty.
After barraging Perras' net in the second, Lee Mitchell finally broke the Clans resistance adding a powerplay goal to his earlier fight on a pass from Archer.
Unfortuntalely, the ugly side of the Stingrays game then returned as the Clan replied 41 seconds later thanks to a defensive breakdown which allowed Ryan Campbell tap home at the back post. The Scottish side fed off that goal and, to the disbelief of most in the Hull Arena, leveled the scores for the first time in the game 14 seconds before the end of the second through Dominic Noel.
This killed all visible momentum the Rays may have gained from outshooting their opponents and when Campbell scored his second of the game, a near replica of his first 44 seconds into the third, Cloutier's side appeared to have blown it once again.
Thankfully, Jereme Tendler popped up, scrambling home the game tying goal on the powerplay before breaking through two Clan defenceman and finishing past Perras at the second time of asking on the penalty kill with just over five minutes left of the clock.
The Rays again did their best to throw away the two points in the closing stages but shut down the Clans attempts at 6-on-4 to claim their first win in six attempts.
For once Cloutier's side put in a less than perfect performance but came away with the spoils against a good Braehead side that looked a little off their game, particularly in the passing department.
While the Stingrays defence was improved, it will again come under fire for allowing far too many odd man rushes and too many slack plays. Led by Coburn, Mitchell and Archer, the Rays put in easily their best peformance for a couple of weeks, particularly up front where they were purposeful and dangerous despite missing Jason Silverthorn and Ryan Lake, who was present but did not ice, and with Mitchell and Esders playing injured.
The victory takes the Rays to seventh, two points ahead of the bottom chasing pack of Edinburgh, Dundee and Newcastle, and eight points behind Braehead with three games in hand.
This coming weekend they face a crunch home and away double header against the in form Coventry Blaze, the side whose ownership group saved the Stingrays in the summer.
Rays Rating
7
FBB Three Stars
1- Andrew Coburn (20)
2- James Archer (10)
3- Lee Mitchell (5)
