Hull Stingrays 2-4 Sheffield Steelers
The Hull Stingrays tonight improved considerably from a disastrous 3-1 first period deficit but couldn't force the issue in a niggly, physical and hard fought Yorkshire derby against the Sheffield Steelers - eventually losing out by four goals to two.
Buoyed by the return of forward Cale Tanaka, the Stingrays entered the match at full strength for the first time in nearly eight weeks.
In an up-tempo start to the game that would set the tone, the Rays came out strongly - matching the Steelers in the physical stakes. A great duel in the corner between Shane Lovdahl and Tylor Michel typifying the mantra in opening stages and that of the remainder of the fixture.
A tripping penalty on Tom Squires 4.23 in allowed the Steelers to take the lead and, more importantly, take control of the first period. With the former Steelers forward sitting his minor penalty, Matt Stephenson one-timed a shot home via the post past a sprawling Ben Bowns to give Ryan Finnerty's side a 1-0 lead.
The home side responded with their own powerplay goal - a rarity in itself - four minutes later. Matty Davies feeding Dominic Osman who squeezed his shot low under John Decaro for a Stingrays powerplay goal just 22 seconds in to a tripping penalty on Jonathan Phillips.
Despite the goal, the visitors re-assumed their dominance less than two minutes later. New signing Simon Ferguson showing his strength with the puck behind the net before off-loading to Drew Fata - who fired home.
Jeff Legue then further compounded a poor 15 minutes for the Stingrays, skating in unmarked late on to create a 3-on-2, giving his side a 3-1 lead going into the middle period on the ensuing finish.
Having dominated down low with their strength on the puck in the opening period, the Steelers were given the opportunity to put the game out of sight 47 seconds into the second period as Kurtis Dulle received a tripping minor penalty.
The fourth and decisive goal didn't arrive quite yet - although a huge and legal hit from Fata on Matty Davies did, leaving the Stingrays leading British scorer heading to the dressing room.
He wasn't the only Stingray to require medical treatment at the time with Davies, Tanaka and Jason Silverthorn all making their way to receive treatment at one point in the second period, leaving defenceman Jeff Smith temporarily filling in up front.
The home side noticeably stepped up their play though and they got the goal they deserved 12.47 in. Osman adding his second powerplay goal of the night with a fairly scrappy but pin point finish to narrow the deficit to 3-2.
Indeed, the Steelers had netminder DeCaro to thank for their lead heading into the final stanza as he denied both Dulle and Lovdahl - who were both alone in front with time and space to pick their spots - with huge saves late on.
Davies returned to the line-up at the start of the third, returning the Rays to full-strength and they again came out strongly at the beginning of the period.
The Rays again struggled to find the goal they deserved and they soon found themselves down 4-2 with Ashley Tait netting a crucial and costly powerplay goal on 47.55.
Nevertheless, the Stingrays attacked straight from the ensuing face-off and lovely work on the boards from Janis Ozolins gave the puck to Silverthorn who in turn fed Tendler - who rang a shot off the bar.
Osman then had two great chances to seal his hat-trick and get the Rays back into the game. First, he was denied one-on-one by DeCaro after being put through by Davies, before - close in on DeCaro - he batted a puck out of mid-air, over the Steelers netminder and agonisingly onto the roof of the goal - though, had it gone in, this would likely have been ruled out for a borderline high-stick.
A chippy, niggly, bordering on dirty but, nevertheless, thoroughly entertaining Yorkshire derby from both sides, things threatened to boil over on numerous occasions, not least with 43 seconds to go.
Having - understandably, given the Steelers were two-goals up - flat out rejected invitations from Stingrays enforcer Ryan Hand to fight on numerous occasions earlier in the match - defenceman Chris Frank took it upon himself to drop the gloves with Silverthorn in a scuffle late on following a check to the head on a Steeler by Kurtis Dulle.
Osman and Jason Hewitt - who was unusually quiet throughout the 60 minutes - also dropped the gloves at the time, however, it was Frank's decision to fight Silverthorn that incensed the Cloutier, Hand and the Rays bench the most.
The Rays coach immediately ordered Hand onto the ice to, presumably, dish out retribution, only for referee Michael Hicks - who generally struggled to control the game throughout - to force Hand to leave the game with a ten-minute misconduct penalty. While it's questionable what fan-favourite Hand actually did to receive the penalty, the call was probably Hick's best, most sensible call of the night and almost certainly prevented all hell needlessly breaking loose in the remaining seconds of the 4-2 Stingrays defeat.
While, on balance the Steelers deserved the two points, the Stingrays - first period aside - could have snatched something from the game had chances from Tendler, Osman, Lovdahl and Dulle found the twine at crucial moments.
Nevertheless, following a fairly demoralising six game losing streak, the Stingrays can hold their heads high after this defeat having dug in and stuck together as a team after a poor first period.
The Stingrays will hope to end their, now, seven game losing skid this side of Christmas with what is sure to be another physical encounter - this time in South Wales against the Cardiff Devils.
Post-Christmas, they take on Edinburgh at home on Thursday before a doubled up league and Challenge Cup Quarter Final Second Leg in Belfast next Saturday.
Buoyed by the return of forward Cale Tanaka, the Stingrays entered the match at full strength for the first time in nearly eight weeks.
In an up-tempo start to the game that would set the tone, the Rays came out strongly - matching the Steelers in the physical stakes. A great duel in the corner between Shane Lovdahl and Tylor Michel typifying the mantra in opening stages and that of the remainder of the fixture.
A tripping penalty on Tom Squires 4.23 in allowed the Steelers to take the lead and, more importantly, take control of the first period. With the former Steelers forward sitting his minor penalty, Matt Stephenson one-timed a shot home via the post past a sprawling Ben Bowns to give Ryan Finnerty's side a 1-0 lead.
The home side responded with their own powerplay goal - a rarity in itself - four minutes later. Matty Davies feeding Dominic Osman who squeezed his shot low under John Decaro for a Stingrays powerplay goal just 22 seconds in to a tripping penalty on Jonathan Phillips.
Despite the goal, the visitors re-assumed their dominance less than two minutes later. New signing Simon Ferguson showing his strength with the puck behind the net before off-loading to Drew Fata - who fired home.
Jeff Legue then further compounded a poor 15 minutes for the Stingrays, skating in unmarked late on to create a 3-on-2, giving his side a 3-1 lead going into the middle period on the ensuing finish.
Having dominated down low with their strength on the puck in the opening period, the Steelers were given the opportunity to put the game out of sight 47 seconds into the second period as Kurtis Dulle received a tripping minor penalty.
The fourth and decisive goal didn't arrive quite yet - although a huge and legal hit from Fata on Matty Davies did, leaving the Stingrays leading British scorer heading to the dressing room.
He wasn't the only Stingray to require medical treatment at the time with Davies, Tanaka and Jason Silverthorn all making their way to receive treatment at one point in the second period, leaving defenceman Jeff Smith temporarily filling in up front.
The home side noticeably stepped up their play though and they got the goal they deserved 12.47 in. Osman adding his second powerplay goal of the night with a fairly scrappy but pin point finish to narrow the deficit to 3-2.
Indeed, the Steelers had netminder DeCaro to thank for their lead heading into the final stanza as he denied both Dulle and Lovdahl - who were both alone in front with time and space to pick their spots - with huge saves late on.
Davies returned to the line-up at the start of the third, returning the Rays to full-strength and they again came out strongly at the beginning of the period.
The Rays again struggled to find the goal they deserved and they soon found themselves down 4-2 with Ashley Tait netting a crucial and costly powerplay goal on 47.55.
Nevertheless, the Stingrays attacked straight from the ensuing face-off and lovely work on the boards from Janis Ozolins gave the puck to Silverthorn who in turn fed Tendler - who rang a shot off the bar.
Osman then had two great chances to seal his hat-trick and get the Rays back into the game. First, he was denied one-on-one by DeCaro after being put through by Davies, before - close in on DeCaro - he batted a puck out of mid-air, over the Steelers netminder and agonisingly onto the roof of the goal - though, had it gone in, this would likely have been ruled out for a borderline high-stick.
A chippy, niggly, bordering on dirty but, nevertheless, thoroughly entertaining Yorkshire derby from both sides, things threatened to boil over on numerous occasions, not least with 43 seconds to go.
Having - understandably, given the Steelers were two-goals up - flat out rejected invitations from Stingrays enforcer Ryan Hand to fight on numerous occasions earlier in the match - defenceman Chris Frank took it upon himself to drop the gloves with Silverthorn in a scuffle late on following a check to the head on a Steeler by Kurtis Dulle.
Osman and Jason Hewitt - who was unusually quiet throughout the 60 minutes - also dropped the gloves at the time, however, it was Frank's decision to fight Silverthorn that incensed the Cloutier, Hand and the Rays bench the most.
The Rays coach immediately ordered Hand onto the ice to, presumably, dish out retribution, only for referee Michael Hicks - who generally struggled to control the game throughout - to force Hand to leave the game with a ten-minute misconduct penalty. While it's questionable what fan-favourite Hand actually did to receive the penalty, the call was probably Hick's best, most sensible call of the night and almost certainly prevented all hell needlessly breaking loose in the remaining seconds of the 4-2 Stingrays defeat.
While, on balance the Steelers deserved the two points, the Stingrays - first period aside - could have snatched something from the game had chances from Tendler, Osman, Lovdahl and Dulle found the twine at crucial moments.
Nevertheless, following a fairly demoralising six game losing streak, the Stingrays can hold their heads high after this defeat having dug in and stuck together as a team after a poor first period.
The Stingrays will hope to end their, now, seven game losing skid this side of Christmas with what is sure to be another physical encounter - this time in South Wales against the Cardiff Devils.
Post-Christmas, they take on Edinburgh at home on Thursday before a doubled up league and Challenge Cup Quarter Final Second Leg in Belfast next Saturday.
FBB Three Stars
1. Dominic Osman
2. Cale Tanaka
3. Shane Lovdahl
