Excel Hull Stingrays 9 - 4 Braehead Clan
In an extraordinary turnaround following last Saturday's home loss against the Edinburgh Capitals, the Excel Hull Stingrays tonight convincingly triumphed over the Braehead Clan by nine goals to four with alternate captain Jason Silverthorn helping himself to a hat-trick and three assists.
Boosted by the return of former captain Kurtis Dulle, the Stingrays defensive corps boasted three lines of six players for the first time this season and with 20 year old Telford Tigers forward Andy McKinney - who made his EIHL debut - the club's forward ranks also looked healthy ahead of a fixture against former Stingray Drew Bannister's Braehead Clan.
Though it was the Clan that fired the first warning shots, hitting the post after less than 30 seconds after the Rays D had been caught high before being denied by netminder Christian Boucher on an incisive breakaway, it was the home side that would strike first.
Captain Joshua Mizerek - who, it would be fair to say, has endured a difficult start to his career in the UK - scoring a speculative effort from the point thanks in part to Jereme Tendler screening Clan netminder Jaako Suomalainen in front after 2.42.
In an action packed first period the Glasgow based side soon responded, standout forward Jordan Krestanovich easily tapping home a powerplay goal at the back door of Boucher's goal to level the scores six minutes in.
The Stingrays then crucially netted two goals in nine seconds, taking control of a period in which they would score eventually record four goals from ten shots. First Jereme Tendler bagged his eighth of the season thanks to some hard work and perseverance before Dominic Osman - who has really hit form in recent weeks - pounced on a loose puck in the Clan zone to clinically fire home for a 3-1 lead and his fourth of the year.
Not ones to give up a fight, Bannister's second year Clan side responded again, Mike Bayrack pulling a big move on Boucher before jamming home to cut the lead to one moments after a high-stick on Rays forward Frantisek Bakrlik had gone unpenalised at the other end.
Derek Campbell - who was influential with four assists in his best game for the Rays - then made a great pass from the boards to set up Silverthorn for his first of the night, rifling past Suomalainen only for Matt Haywood to peg Cloutier's side back with 47 seconds remaining in the period.
Aware of the dangers of a tight lead, the Stingrays had to come out strong in the second period and, though American Osman took a two minute hooking penalty, his side were still able to capitalise with their fifth of the game. Frantisek Bakrlik - who has had a frustrating time of it recently - denied before forcing home a shorthanded goal for a 5-3 lead.
Three minutes and 55 seconds later they netted the goal that broke the Clan's back. Silverthorn recording his second of the night on a Drew Bannister delayed penalty for a check from behind. The hit understandably riled Rays forward Campbell, who received a roughing penalty following the goal for his reaction to the Clan coach after he had remained on top Osman, the victim of the hit, after the penalty was awarded but before the Clan touched the puck.
Nevertheless, the goal all but ended the Scottish sides resistance for the night as they replaced Finnish keeper Suomalainen with rangy backup Michael Will.
On 31.09 Silverthorn completed his hat-trick, scoring a first past Will at the second time of asking having mishandled the first attempt. With the scoreline at 7-3, and the Stingrays having scored six goals in less than 20 minutes of hockey, the home team soon got a reality check and were forced to reevaluate and reel in their enthusiasm and confidence as a lack of numbers at the back allowed Brit forward Haywood to add his second of the night on a breakaway goal which Boucher may have hoped to prevent.
A great outlet pass from Silverthorn then put Osman in on his own breakaway to restore the four goal lead at the end of the second before Bakrlik one timed his own second of the night in off the post with less than three minutes remaining in the third for the Rays ninth of the game.
A night and performance to be proud of for players and fans alike, the Stingrays extended their win streak to two following Sunday's win in Dundee.
Good individual performances all around, special mentions must go to season debutant's Dulle and McKinney as well as Silverthorn, Osman and Campbell - who all stood out in particular. Dulle - not long arrived in Britain - played alongside Mizerek and didn't put a foot wrong - adding an assist - while spark plug and top flight debutant McKinney was the real surprise of the night, providing speed and controlled physicality on a full shift on the third line. He could have very easily made it a dream debut by grabbing himself a deserved goal if only for a little more composure in front of net when presented with a perfect third period opportunity.
In short this was easily the Stingrays best performance and result of the 11/12 campaign. Forget about playing well and not winning, or not playing well and just winning, this result had it all. Clinical and emphatic, the two-weeks notice put out by Cloutier during the second intermission of the Edinburgh game appears to have worked wonders.
The Rays boss now has a new dilemna, a good dilemma but a dilemma nevertheless. Who goes, who stays or - if it is even financially possible - does he remain on the bench for the foreseeable future as long as his side and players perform?
One thing is for sure, it would take a tough critic to break up the team that dismantled the Clan tonight.
Cloutier and team must now look to forward and focus on ensuring tonight's victory is not a false dawn.
In an extraordinary turnaround following last Saturday's home loss against the Edinburgh Capitals, the Excel Hull Stingrays tonight convincingly triumphed over the Braehead Clan by nine goals to four with alternate captain Jason Silverthorn helping himself to a hat-trick and three assists.
Boosted by the return of former captain Kurtis Dulle, the Stingrays defensive corps boasted three lines of six players for the first time this season and with 20 year old Telford Tigers forward Andy McKinney - who made his EIHL debut - the club's forward ranks also looked healthy ahead of a fixture against former Stingray Drew Bannister's Braehead Clan.
Though it was the Clan that fired the first warning shots, hitting the post after less than 30 seconds after the Rays D had been caught high before being denied by netminder Christian Boucher on an incisive breakaway, it was the home side that would strike first.
Captain Joshua Mizerek - who, it would be fair to say, has endured a difficult start to his career in the UK - scoring a speculative effort from the point thanks in part to Jereme Tendler screening Clan netminder Jaako Suomalainen in front after 2.42.
In an action packed first period the Glasgow based side soon responded, standout forward Jordan Krestanovich easily tapping home a powerplay goal at the back door of Boucher's goal to level the scores six minutes in.
The Stingrays then crucially netted two goals in nine seconds, taking control of a period in which they would score eventually record four goals from ten shots. First Jereme Tendler bagged his eighth of the season thanks to some hard work and perseverance before Dominic Osman - who has really hit form in recent weeks - pounced on a loose puck in the Clan zone to clinically fire home for a 3-1 lead and his fourth of the year.
Not ones to give up a fight, Bannister's second year Clan side responded again, Mike Bayrack pulling a big move on Boucher before jamming home to cut the lead to one moments after a high-stick on Rays forward Frantisek Bakrlik had gone unpenalised at the other end.
Derek Campbell - who was influential with four assists in his best game for the Rays - then made a great pass from the boards to set up Silverthorn for his first of the night, rifling past Suomalainen only for Matt Haywood to peg Cloutier's side back with 47 seconds remaining in the period.
Aware of the dangers of a tight lead, the Stingrays had to come out strong in the second period and, though American Osman took a two minute hooking penalty, his side were still able to capitalise with their fifth of the game. Frantisek Bakrlik - who has had a frustrating time of it recently - denied before forcing home a shorthanded goal for a 5-3 lead.
Three minutes and 55 seconds later they netted the goal that broke the Clan's back. Silverthorn recording his second of the night on a Drew Bannister delayed penalty for a check from behind. The hit understandably riled Rays forward Campbell, who received a roughing penalty following the goal for his reaction to the Clan coach after he had remained on top Osman, the victim of the hit, after the penalty was awarded but before the Clan touched the puck.
Nevertheless, the goal all but ended the Scottish sides resistance for the night as they replaced Finnish keeper Suomalainen with rangy backup Michael Will.
On 31.09 Silverthorn completed his hat-trick, scoring a first past Will at the second time of asking having mishandled the first attempt. With the scoreline at 7-3, and the Stingrays having scored six goals in less than 20 minutes of hockey, the home team soon got a reality check and were forced to reevaluate and reel in their enthusiasm and confidence as a lack of numbers at the back allowed Brit forward Haywood to add his second of the night on a breakaway goal which Boucher may have hoped to prevent.
A great outlet pass from Silverthorn then put Osman in on his own breakaway to restore the four goal lead at the end of the second before Bakrlik one timed his own second of the night in off the post with less than three minutes remaining in the third for the Rays ninth of the game.
A night and performance to be proud of for players and fans alike, the Stingrays extended their win streak to two following Sunday's win in Dundee.
Good individual performances all around, special mentions must go to season debutant's Dulle and McKinney as well as Silverthorn, Osman and Campbell - who all stood out in particular. Dulle - not long arrived in Britain - played alongside Mizerek and didn't put a foot wrong - adding an assist - while spark plug and top flight debutant McKinney was the real surprise of the night, providing speed and controlled physicality on a full shift on the third line. He could have very easily made it a dream debut by grabbing himself a deserved goal if only for a little more composure in front of net when presented with a perfect third period opportunity.
In short this was easily the Stingrays best performance and result of the 11/12 campaign. Forget about playing well and not winning, or not playing well and just winning, this result had it all. Clinical and emphatic, the two-weeks notice put out by Cloutier during the second intermission of the Edinburgh game appears to have worked wonders.
The Rays boss now has a new dilemna, a good dilemma but a dilemma nevertheless. Who goes, who stays or - if it is even financially possible - does he remain on the bench for the foreseeable future as long as his side and players perform?
One thing is for sure, it would take a tough critic to break up the team that dismantled the Clan tonight.
Cloutier and team must now look to forward and focus on ensuring tonight's victory is not a false dawn.
Rays Rating
8
FBB Three Stars
1 - Jason Silverthorn (3+3)
2 - Derek Campbell (0+4)
3 - Kurtis Dulle (0+1)
