Hull Stingrays 1-3 Dundee Stars
The Hull Stingrays put in comfortably their worst home performance of the young season tonight against Gardiner Conference rivals the Dundee Stars, going down 3-1 in a scrappy, incoherent affair at the Hull Arena.
With a home double header on the cards and Hull Fair in town, the Rays started poorly in front of a crowd of just 581, immediately getting into penalty trouble for their over enthusiasm early on.
Sylvain Cloutier, Tomas Valecko and Jeff Smith all making their way to the penalty box in a penalty strewn first period that also saw Mike Wirll, Jack Watkins, Tristan Harper and Matt Baxter sit for the visitors. Rangy defenceman Smith received his minutes in the box - a two plus two for roughing - having again stood up for Ben Bowns in the Rays net after Wirll bumped the rookie Elite League netminder.
Unfortunately from an entertainment perspective, both sides powerplay units were ineffective throughout the game in what turned out to be a low-scoring affair and the Rays would go on to kill their early penalty trouble.
The game would be nine minutes old before the first real chance came the way of the home side, Jereme Tendler ghosting between the Stars D only to be denied on the breakaway by netminder Nic Riopel - who was key to the Stars victory over the Rays earlier in the season and would again come up big.
A burst of energy from Domnic Osman 13 minutes in then saw Janis Ozolins somehow nudge the puck home on Riopel's near side for his sixth of the season and a 1-0 Rays lead.
Three minutes later though the Stars hit back, Bill Bagron netting past Bowns to tie the scores up after the Rays gave away possession in mid-ice shortly after a face-off.
After one period both sides had struggled to take control of the game and things didn't improve in the second as the scrappy, disjointed play continued - though somehow there would have to be one winner come the end of play.
It would be the Dundee Stars who were more clinical and controlled when it mattered in what was quickly turning out to be a poor game.
The Stars game winning goal came shortly after Jason Silverthorn joined Tendler in missing a breakaway after 38 minutes, former Braehead forward Wirll - who netted a goal and two assists on the night - legally, according to referee James Ashton, re-directing the puck home with his foot from close in after Bagron undressed a Rays defenceman in the corner with just seven seconds remaining in the second.
Even at 1-1 the Stars were happy to sit back and play their defensive game by relying on the skills of Riopel - who, while very very good down low, did produce some big rebounds which the Rays failed to capitalise on time after time - and that unsurprisingly continued in the third period with the visitors leading 2-1.
The Scottish side fired just five shots on Bowns in the final period - perhaps proof of their defensive mindset - with 14 going the way of the Stars keeper but, in truth, the Rays struggles going forward meant little more was required.
Despite a period of urgency from the home side 49 minutes in, a somewhat tepid, uninspiring performance overall saw the Stars return to Dundee with two crucial points in the Gardiner Conference and their second win in two games against the Rays. Sami Ryhanen netting a empty net goal with just four seconds remaining for good measure.
Offensively, the Rays obviously struggled to penetrate Riopel as was the case last week in the first two periods against Garrett Zemlak and the Braehead Clan. While the line of Ozolins, Osman and the ever improving Matty Davies was again the biggest threat going forward, constantly using their speed to cause problems and create chances, even that threat wasn't what it has been in previous weeks. Passing and control of the puck was a problem throughout the lineup but particularly so for the other offensive unit of Cloutier, Silverthorn and Tendler - who didn't appear to click at all this evening.
Defensively, the Rays seem to be improved, with fewer mistakes, better positioning on the whole and less reliance on Bowns to make big stops to keep them in the game.
Still, after periods of offensive brilliance against Coventry and Braehead last week, the Rays entered this weekend searching for that 60 minute performance throughout the roster but struggled to muster 5 minutes of true superior, controlled play.
Of what was probably the club's worst showing this season Rays owner and assistant coach said:
The Hull Stingrays put in comfortably their worst home performance of the young season tonight against Gardiner Conference rivals the Dundee Stars, going down 3-1 in a scrappy, incoherent affair at the Hull Arena.
With a home double header on the cards and Hull Fair in town, the Rays started poorly in front of a crowd of just 581, immediately getting into penalty trouble for their over enthusiasm early on.
Sylvain Cloutier, Tomas Valecko and Jeff Smith all making their way to the penalty box in a penalty strewn first period that also saw Mike Wirll, Jack Watkins, Tristan Harper and Matt Baxter sit for the visitors. Rangy defenceman Smith received his minutes in the box - a two plus two for roughing - having again stood up for Ben Bowns in the Rays net after Wirll bumped the rookie Elite League netminder.
Unfortunately from an entertainment perspective, both sides powerplay units were ineffective throughout the game in what turned out to be a low-scoring affair and the Rays would go on to kill their early penalty trouble.
The game would be nine minutes old before the first real chance came the way of the home side, Jereme Tendler ghosting between the Stars D only to be denied on the breakaway by netminder Nic Riopel - who was key to the Stars victory over the Rays earlier in the season and would again come up big.
A burst of energy from Domnic Osman 13 minutes in then saw Janis Ozolins somehow nudge the puck home on Riopel's near side for his sixth of the season and a 1-0 Rays lead.
Three minutes later though the Stars hit back, Bill Bagron netting past Bowns to tie the scores up after the Rays gave away possession in mid-ice shortly after a face-off.
After one period both sides had struggled to take control of the game and things didn't improve in the second as the scrappy, disjointed play continued - though somehow there would have to be one winner come the end of play.
It would be the Dundee Stars who were more clinical and controlled when it mattered in what was quickly turning out to be a poor game.
The Stars game winning goal came shortly after Jason Silverthorn joined Tendler in missing a breakaway after 38 minutes, former Braehead forward Wirll - who netted a goal and two assists on the night - legally, according to referee James Ashton, re-directing the puck home with his foot from close in after Bagron undressed a Rays defenceman in the corner with just seven seconds remaining in the second.
Even at 1-1 the Stars were happy to sit back and play their defensive game by relying on the skills of Riopel - who, while very very good down low, did produce some big rebounds which the Rays failed to capitalise on time after time - and that unsurprisingly continued in the third period with the visitors leading 2-1.
The Scottish side fired just five shots on Bowns in the final period - perhaps proof of their defensive mindset - with 14 going the way of the Stars keeper but, in truth, the Rays struggles going forward meant little more was required.
Despite a period of urgency from the home side 49 minutes in, a somewhat tepid, uninspiring performance overall saw the Stars return to Dundee with two crucial points in the Gardiner Conference and their second win in two games against the Rays. Sami Ryhanen netting a empty net goal with just four seconds remaining for good measure.
Offensively, the Rays obviously struggled to penetrate Riopel as was the case last week in the first two periods against Garrett Zemlak and the Braehead Clan. While the line of Ozolins, Osman and the ever improving Matty Davies was again the biggest threat going forward, constantly using their speed to cause problems and create chances, even that threat wasn't what it has been in previous weeks. Passing and control of the puck was a problem throughout the lineup but particularly so for the other offensive unit of Cloutier, Silverthorn and Tendler - who didn't appear to click at all this evening.
Defensively, the Rays seem to be improved, with fewer mistakes, better positioning on the whole and less reliance on Bowns to make big stops to keep them in the game.
Still, after periods of offensive brilliance against Coventry and Braehead last week, the Rays entered this weekend searching for that 60 minute performance throughout the roster but struggled to muster 5 minutes of true superior, controlled play.
Of what was probably the club's worst showing this season Rays owner and assistant coach said:
"I am very disappointed. Too many guys did not show up. I am not happy."Cloutier's side now move on to the daunting task of taking on the Belfast Giants - who tonight defeated the Nottingham Panthers in Northern Ireland - at the Hull Arena tomorrow night (6pm) which is perhaps all the more daunting given tonight's showing.
FBB Three Stars
1 - Ben Bowns
2 - Janis Ozolins
3 - Matty Davies
