Fife Flyers 4-2 Hull Stingrays
The Hull Stingrays this evening suffered perhaps the biggest blow to their playoff hopes in the first of two huge games this weekend going down to the Fife Flyers by four goals to two.
With the Stingrays trailing at the bottom of a Gardiner Conference which is separated by just three points and with two games against conference rivals, they desperately required a maximum return from the weekend.
Indeed, they gave themselves every chance to claim victory number one of two against Fife this evening.
Shane Lovdahl's first goal of the season (PP) after 17 minutes leveled Bobby Chaumont's opener (PP) for the home side in a first period which the Rays outshot the Flyers 11-6.
Kris Hogg (PP) then gave Fife their second lead 2.44 into middle period before Jereme Tendler again equalised for the Stingrays with less than two minutes remaining in the period - in which Fife levelled the shot count.
The Stingrays gave themselves a great chance for victory at 2-2 heading into the final 20 minutes only for Hogg to strike again just 1.28 into the third period.
A further goal from Zach Carriveau on 47.20 extended the Kirkcaldy sides lead to 4-2, sealing a damaging defeat which puts the Flyers three points ahead in the conference and seven points adrift in the league standings.
Combined with Edinburgh's convincing win over Coventry this evening the gap between the Stingrays in bottom spot in the league and the eighth and final playoff spot is now six points - a margin Sylvain Cloutier's side will likely struggle to overturn with just nine games remaining, albeit six of those games come at the Hull Arena.
The Rays best hope for playoff qualification is to top the Gardiner Conference as they still trail Braehead in top spot by just three points. However, with just five games remaining against their own conference and three points to make up the odds are stacked against the Rays.
While their playoff dream seems to be drifting out of sight, if they are to make a go of it then Sunday nights home game against Braehead is an absolute must win and will have to be the start of a brilliant run of form.
A defeat tomorrow night will surely spell the end of their playoff hopes for 12/13 albeit after a thoroughly entertaining season.
The Hull Stingrays this evening suffered perhaps the biggest blow to their playoff hopes in the first of two huge games this weekend going down to the Fife Flyers by four goals to two.
With the Stingrays trailing at the bottom of a Gardiner Conference which is separated by just three points and with two games against conference rivals, they desperately required a maximum return from the weekend.
Indeed, they gave themselves every chance to claim victory number one of two against Fife this evening.
Shane Lovdahl's first goal of the season (PP) after 17 minutes leveled Bobby Chaumont's opener (PP) for the home side in a first period which the Rays outshot the Flyers 11-6.
Kris Hogg (PP) then gave Fife their second lead 2.44 into middle period before Jereme Tendler again equalised for the Stingrays with less than two minutes remaining in the period - in which Fife levelled the shot count.
The Stingrays gave themselves a great chance for victory at 2-2 heading into the final 20 minutes only for Hogg to strike again just 1.28 into the third period.
A further goal from Zach Carriveau on 47.20 extended the Kirkcaldy sides lead to 4-2, sealing a damaging defeat which puts the Flyers three points ahead in the conference and seven points adrift in the league standings.
Combined with Edinburgh's convincing win over Coventry this evening the gap between the Stingrays in bottom spot in the league and the eighth and final playoff spot is now six points - a margin Sylvain Cloutier's side will likely struggle to overturn with just nine games remaining, albeit six of those games come at the Hull Arena.
The Rays best hope for playoff qualification is to top the Gardiner Conference as they still trail Braehead in top spot by just three points. However, with just five games remaining against their own conference and three points to make up the odds are stacked against the Rays.
While their playoff dream seems to be drifting out of sight, if they are to make a go of it then Sunday nights home game against Braehead is an absolute must win and will have to be the start of a brilliant run of form.
A defeat tomorrow night will surely spell the end of their playoff hopes for 12/13 albeit after a thoroughly entertaining season.
