Excel Hull Stingrays 1 - 3 Belfast Giants
The Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight agonisingly denied a fourth consecutive Elite League win by the Belfast Giants, as the league leaders completed a slightly fortuitous hit and run on Stingrays in a tightly fought 3-1 victory.
Without British rookie Bobby Chamberlain through suspension and player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - who remained on the bench as the club's 11th import - the Stingrays could have potentially lead moments into the game. Derek Campbell - who stood out once again for his strength and determination - only managing to fire into the body of Giants netminder Stephen Murphy after hard work in the corner from line mate Jason Silverthorn.
That is about as good as it would get for the home side in the first period though as a combination of poor discipline and the Giants good form - having beaten Nottingham a night earlier - saw Doug Christiansen's dominate the opening period.
It was thanks to that that the visitors came closest to opening the scoring after ten minutes, Rays defenceman Sam McCluskey clearing off the line after a shot had uncharacteristically snuck through netminder Christian Boucher on the powerplay.
The Stingrays keeper was tested regularly throughout the game but thankfully came out on top more often than not, particularly in the first period, as his side killed off three powerplay's.
Having worked so hard to snuff out the Giants powerplay, it was perhaps typical that the Northern Irish side would net the games opening goal,, typically shorthanded on a Stingrays powerplay. Agitator Darryl Lloyd deservedly handing the Giants a 1-0 first period lead having outshot the home team 21-3.
Cloutier's side improved early in the second period, firing shots in on Murphy in an attempt to force an error from the GB international.
Though the Giants somewhat comfortably held their one goal lead for the majority of the second, with seven minutes remaining in the period the Stingrays - almost out of nowhere - turned it on, pressurising the Giants into their own end.
Their play and continuous pressure during this spell was the polar opposite of their first period showing and seemingly materialised from nothing. First Martin Ondrej hit the post as he searched for his first goal in Rays colours before Frantisek Bakrlik was prevented from forcing home close in and Dominic Osman was denied in a double effort - the second of which was a diving shot which Murphy gratefully turned away in a Stingrays onslaught.
Then on 36.06 new addition Kurtis Dulle added his first goal of 11/12 to go with his 12 of 10/11, duly scrapping the puck home after hard work from Dan Scott - who netted his first point as a Stingray - and Tristan Harper.
The goal was no less than the Rays deserved in a seven minute spell that surely rates as the Stingrays best of 11/12. Nevertheless, despite having all the momentum, they failed to capitalise on further chances in the remaining four minutes and the sides went in to the second intermission level.
More of the same followed as the Rays began the third as they finished the second, Murphy time and again coming up with saves in front of an atmospheric Hull crowd that believed they were about to witness a home win for just the third time this season.
Their biggest chance to snatch the win came on 50 minutes, as Jereme Tendler - who had an uncharacteristically below par 60 minutes - was denied by the Belfast keeper on a breakaway.
Having missed that opportunity, the key moment in the game followed as a controlled and threatening Stingrays powerplay attempt bore no fruit and was abruptly ended by a Dmitri Rodin interference call, giving the Giants a moment of respite.
That momentary rest, spent all in the Giants offensive zone, allowed Christainsen's side to regroup having largely been outplayed by the home team in the final period and a half.
That continued until the 55 minute mark when referee Andy Carson failed to call a blatant trip on defenceman Dulle - who was bringing the puck out of the defensive zone - handing possession of the puck to the Giants in a threatening position before Beniot Doucet inadvertently and luckily saw his shot deflected home in off a Stingray.
The eventual game winning goal knocked all the wind out of the Stingrays sails as the Giants went on to net a shorthanded, empty net goal through Mark Garside with 38 seconds left on the clock to seal the score at 3-1 in favour of the league leaders.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Rays who, first period aside, played as well as they have all year, continuing their recent turn in form following last weekend's loss to Edinburgh.
While tonight's truly was a team effort, special praise must go to netminder Boucher who kept the Rays in it during a particularly difficult first period.
Despite a run of three wins in five games over a two week period - a record that, despite the home Edinburgh loss, Cloutier would have been happy with from the outset - the Rays boss must now release one import, having observed and coached from the bench during the last three games following Dulle's arrival.
Over the previous two games it is fair to say the forwards have put their case forward, racking up 13 goals, while tonight's performance was a team effort in which no one disappointed.
Cloutier is expected to make his decision early next week ahead of two full weekends of Challenge Cup fixtures - a competitive they are all but mathematically out of - including a home double header to Coventry and Sheffield next weekend.
The Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight agonisingly denied a fourth consecutive Elite League win by the Belfast Giants, as the league leaders completed a slightly fortuitous hit and run on Stingrays in a tightly fought 3-1 victory.
Without British rookie Bobby Chamberlain through suspension and player-coach Sylvain Cloutier - who remained on the bench as the club's 11th import - the Stingrays could have potentially lead moments into the game. Derek Campbell - who stood out once again for his strength and determination - only managing to fire into the body of Giants netminder Stephen Murphy after hard work in the corner from line mate Jason Silverthorn.
That is about as good as it would get for the home side in the first period though as a combination of poor discipline and the Giants good form - having beaten Nottingham a night earlier - saw Doug Christiansen's dominate the opening period.
It was thanks to that that the visitors came closest to opening the scoring after ten minutes, Rays defenceman Sam McCluskey clearing off the line after a shot had uncharacteristically snuck through netminder Christian Boucher on the powerplay.
The Stingrays keeper was tested regularly throughout the game but thankfully came out on top more often than not, particularly in the first period, as his side killed off three powerplay's.
Having worked so hard to snuff out the Giants powerplay, it was perhaps typical that the Northern Irish side would net the games opening goal,, typically shorthanded on a Stingrays powerplay. Agitator Darryl Lloyd deservedly handing the Giants a 1-0 first period lead having outshot the home team 21-3.
Cloutier's side improved early in the second period, firing shots in on Murphy in an attempt to force an error from the GB international.
Though the Giants somewhat comfortably held their one goal lead for the majority of the second, with seven minutes remaining in the period the Stingrays - almost out of nowhere - turned it on, pressurising the Giants into their own end.
Their play and continuous pressure during this spell was the polar opposite of their first period showing and seemingly materialised from nothing. First Martin Ondrej hit the post as he searched for his first goal in Rays colours before Frantisek Bakrlik was prevented from forcing home close in and Dominic Osman was denied in a double effort - the second of which was a diving shot which Murphy gratefully turned away in a Stingrays onslaught.
Then on 36.06 new addition Kurtis Dulle added his first goal of 11/12 to go with his 12 of 10/11, duly scrapping the puck home after hard work from Dan Scott - who netted his first point as a Stingray - and Tristan Harper.
The goal was no less than the Rays deserved in a seven minute spell that surely rates as the Stingrays best of 11/12. Nevertheless, despite having all the momentum, they failed to capitalise on further chances in the remaining four minutes and the sides went in to the second intermission level.
More of the same followed as the Rays began the third as they finished the second, Murphy time and again coming up with saves in front of an atmospheric Hull crowd that believed they were about to witness a home win for just the third time this season.
Their biggest chance to snatch the win came on 50 minutes, as Jereme Tendler - who had an uncharacteristically below par 60 minutes - was denied by the Belfast keeper on a breakaway.
Having missed that opportunity, the key moment in the game followed as a controlled and threatening Stingrays powerplay attempt bore no fruit and was abruptly ended by a Dmitri Rodin interference call, giving the Giants a moment of respite.
That momentary rest, spent all in the Giants offensive zone, allowed Christainsen's side to regroup having largely been outplayed by the home team in the final period and a half.
That continued until the 55 minute mark when referee Andy Carson failed to call a blatant trip on defenceman Dulle - who was bringing the puck out of the defensive zone - handing possession of the puck to the Giants in a threatening position before Beniot Doucet inadvertently and luckily saw his shot deflected home in off a Stingray.
The eventual game winning goal knocked all the wind out of the Stingrays sails as the Giants went on to net a shorthanded, empty net goal through Mark Garside with 38 seconds left on the clock to seal the score at 3-1 in favour of the league leaders.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Rays who, first period aside, played as well as they have all year, continuing their recent turn in form following last weekend's loss to Edinburgh.
While tonight's truly was a team effort, special praise must go to netminder Boucher who kept the Rays in it during a particularly difficult first period.
Despite a run of three wins in five games over a two week period - a record that, despite the home Edinburgh loss, Cloutier would have been happy with from the outset - the Rays boss must now release one import, having observed and coached from the bench during the last three games following Dulle's arrival.
Over the previous two games it is fair to say the forwards have put their case forward, racking up 13 goals, while tonight's performance was a team effort in which no one disappointed.
Cloutier is expected to make his decision early next week ahead of two full weekends of Challenge Cup fixtures - a competitive they are all but mathematically out of - including a home double header to Coventry and Sheffield next weekend.
Rays Rating
8
FBB Three Stars
1 - Christian Boucher (41 saves)
2 - Derek Campbell (0+0)
3 - Frantisek Bakrlik (0+0)
