Dundee Stars 9-4 Excel Hull Stingrays
The Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight thoroughly embarrassed in Scotland, losing to former cellar dwellers Dundee by nine goals to four in their sixth consecutive loss.
Realistically, the game as a contest was over after just 11 minutes and 40 seconds, at which point Peter Cartwright added his second of the game to his earlier marker and Dan Ceman and Tristan Haper goals.
A goal from Mark Nebus further extended the home sides lead to 5-0 in their only score of the second before the Rays finally found the twine through Konstantin Kalmikov, having fired 25 shots in two periods on former goalie Ladislav Kudrna.
24 seconds into the third Dundee netted again through Ceman to end Rays starting netminder Christian Boucher's participation in the game after allowing six goals on 19 shots. The Dundee player coach completed his hat trick two minutes later in a baptism of fire for Rays backup Andrew Jaszczyk, who ended up stopping eight of 11 shots.
The Stars Harper then scored his second of the game before Kalmikov copied the young Brit minutes later to put the score at 8-2. Dundee, presumably taking advantage of some horrific Rays defending, then netted their ninth and, thankfully for Rays fans, final goal of the night 11 seconds later through Cartwright, who secured the second hat trick of the game.
The Rays rallied too little, too late in the third to give the scoreline a perhaps unjustly closer 9-4 scoreline with Matty Davies and Jereme Tendler getting on the scoresheet.
Cloutier's side still managed to outshoot their Scottish opponents 42-30, however, this time that was unable to paper over the cracks of an unacceptable loss.
9-4 is a pathetic scoreline whether facing Dundee, Nottingham or Sheffield, so that is said with no disrespect to Dan Ceman's side who, after solving their poor early season form, have been on a sharp rise in form since. It is inexplicable to concede nine goals to any side, but particularly an inaugural EIHL team that have been rock bottom for the whole year. Unprepared and expecting an easy victory are two things that may have sprung to the Stingrays mind.
The Rays must now progress with their own steep learning curve of massive proportions having been taught a lesson by Dundee. If they are to even have a sniff of the playoffs that will hopefully start tonight on the long trip home from Dundee, continue on Wednesday against Braehead and finish at the end of the season.
The only positive being beamed down from Scotland is that the sheer number of goals conceded must now force coach Cloutier's hand with regards to making changes to the team, most importantly in defence, where his side have been worse than lacklustre this year.
Early in the year good performances in losses against the top sides covered over the fallacies in defence because it was accepted that loss was almost inevitable and that things would improve against sides lower down.
Things haven't changed and Cloutier and his side have now reached tipping point.
They face Braehead in front of what must be now a sceptical and pessimistic fanbase on Wednesday before a weekend home and away double header against the Coventry Blaze
