Braehead Clan 2-1 Hull Stingrays (SO)
The Hull Stingrays lost their third consecutive game by way of a shootout and eighth of the season in a 2-1 loss to conference rivals the Braehead Clan as Ben Bowns stopped 28 of 29 shots in a man of the match performance.
Having lost in penalty shots to Edinburgh and Cardiff last weekend, the Stingrays looked like they have have finally broken the streak thanks to a 42nd minute shorthanded goal from Jereme Tendler - his 30th goal of the season.
The Clan leveled with less than four minutes remaining though and, after a scoreless overtime period, the dreaded shootout awaited.
Sylvain Cloutier's side got off to the perfect start in their quest to end seven games unbeaten as Tendler found twine on the first shot and Goldie was unable to do so for the Clan. However, misses from Kurtis Dulle and Janis Ozolins combined with Clan goals from Jade Galbraith and Steve Birnstill sealed the game in the Clans favour.
Nevertheless, the loss gives the Rays their third point from three games - albeit three shootout losses. Unfortunately, two of the three most recent defeats by way of penalty shots have come against Gardiner Conference sides, allowing those sides - most notably Edinburgh and Braehead - to gain a point on the Rays.
The loss, combined with Edinburgh's victory over Cardiff last night restores the Scottish sides two point advantage over the Rays - who have three games in hand - in the league standings, while narrowing the gap in the conference to two points - the Rays have two games in hand.
Those games in hand could prove to be crucial as the Rays fight for a playoff berth five points behind eighth placed Fife - with two games in hand. They also trail Braehead by just eight points in the conference with two games in hand, so it's still more than tight enough for the Rays to claw their way back into the race. To do so they have to start converting tight losses into wins.
The Stingrays end their weekend with a huge, must-win game in Edinburgh on Sunday night.
The Hull Stingrays lost their third consecutive game by way of a shootout and eighth of the season in a 2-1 loss to conference rivals the Braehead Clan as Ben Bowns stopped 28 of 29 shots in a man of the match performance.
Having lost in penalty shots to Edinburgh and Cardiff last weekend, the Stingrays looked like they have have finally broken the streak thanks to a 42nd minute shorthanded goal from Jereme Tendler - his 30th goal of the season.
The Clan leveled with less than four minutes remaining though and, after a scoreless overtime period, the dreaded shootout awaited.
Sylvain Cloutier's side got off to the perfect start in their quest to end seven games unbeaten as Tendler found twine on the first shot and Goldie was unable to do so for the Clan. However, misses from Kurtis Dulle and Janis Ozolins combined with Clan goals from Jade Galbraith and Steve Birnstill sealed the game in the Clans favour.
Nevertheless, the loss gives the Rays their third point from three games - albeit three shootout losses. Unfortunately, two of the three most recent defeats by way of penalty shots have come against Gardiner Conference sides, allowing those sides - most notably Edinburgh and Braehead - to gain a point on the Rays.
The loss, combined with Edinburgh's victory over Cardiff last night restores the Scottish sides two point advantage over the Rays - who have three games in hand - in the league standings, while narrowing the gap in the conference to two points - the Rays have two games in hand.
Those games in hand could prove to be crucial as the Rays fight for a playoff berth five points behind eighth placed Fife - with two games in hand. They also trail Braehead by just eight points in the conference with two games in hand, so it's still more than tight enough for the Rays to claw their way back into the race. To do so they have to start converting tight losses into wins.
The Stingrays end their weekend with a huge, must-win game in Edinburgh on Sunday night.
