Hull Stingrays 3-1 Fife Flyers
Two powerplay goals from defenceman Shane Lovdahl and a gutsy third period defensive display tonight helped the Hull Stingrays to a 3-1 victory over Gardiner Conference rivals Fife Flyers, keeping alive their hopes of making the Elite League playoffs with a third consecutive win.
In a penalty strewn first period, the Stingrays struck first having started the better - breakaways from Jason Silverthorn and Jereme Tendler moments apart both denied by Flyers netminder Bryan Pitton - makeshift powerplay forward Lovdahl deflecting a Dominic Osman point shot high into the Fife net for just his second goal of the season.
Todd Duitaume's side responded reasonably quickly however, notching their only goal of the game on 18.10 through Bobby Chaumont - who has been a revelation in Flyers colours since his move from Braehead - benefiting from what seemed a harsh cross-checking call on Ryan Hand that, likely, wouldn't have been called had it been any other player on the ice.
Nevertheless, the sides were level heading into the second intermission and then in the second period until Lovdahl - who, prior to tonight's fixture had just one goal in 48 games - picked up a loose puck 29.45 in and beat Pitton on the powerplay for the second time as the Rays countered a shorthanded break from the Flyers to which Ben Bowns was equal.
Two minutes later and with the Stingrays again plying pressure on the Fife net, Lovdahl tangled with Flyers defenceman Zach Carriveau in front of Pitton, eventually dropping the gloves for his fourth scrap of the year.
The successful fight completed an eventful game for the American blueliner in a man of the match worthy performance, though, at the time, there was still plenty of work for Lovdahl and his teammates to do to close the game out at 2-1 heading into the final period.
Indeed, the Flyers came out strongly in the third period and were able to pen Sylvain Cloutier's side in their own end for large portions, plying pressure on the Stingrays net and eventually outshooting them 13-9 in the final stanza.
However, with captain Kurtis Dulle leading from the back in a brilliant all-round performance, Martin Ondrej again proving his worth defensively, Lovdahl enjoying himself and Bowns in fine form, the Rays held strong and - one or two hairy moments aside - claimed two more invaluable points on their quest to make the playoffs.
This weekend's victories have sent Cloutier's side to the top of the Gardiner Conference on 33 points, admittedly having played more games than every team in the conference and with just two conference games remaining.
In order to qualify for the playoffs as conference winners, the Rays must win their two remaining Gardiner Conference games against Dundee and then hope the other four sides continue to take points off each other in equal measures.
As far as the league is concerned, the Stingrays remain bottom on 39 points but wins over seventh placed Fife and eighth placed Braehead this weekend have narrowed the gap to the playoffs to just one point.
It's still a mighty hill to climb, however, the current three game win streak has done wonders for the Stingrays - who it seemed might be down and out following defeat in Fife on 23rd February.
By finally putting a winning streak together, the Rays - who were visibly tiring as tonight's game wore on after a big win in Glasgow last night - are giving themselves every chance to extend their season into the post-season, whether it's a little bit too little, too late remains to be seen.
Next Saturday's home game against Dundee is other big game in a long line of massive fixtures that will end continue until Sunday 24th March when the Rays close their season with a home game against the Coventry Blaze.
In a penalty strewn first period, the Stingrays struck first having started the better - breakaways from Jason Silverthorn and Jereme Tendler moments apart both denied by Flyers netminder Bryan Pitton - makeshift powerplay forward Lovdahl deflecting a Dominic Osman point shot high into the Fife net for just his second goal of the season.
Todd Duitaume's side responded reasonably quickly however, notching their only goal of the game on 18.10 through Bobby Chaumont - who has been a revelation in Flyers colours since his move from Braehead - benefiting from what seemed a harsh cross-checking call on Ryan Hand that, likely, wouldn't have been called had it been any other player on the ice.
Nevertheless, the sides were level heading into the second intermission and then in the second period until Lovdahl - who, prior to tonight's fixture had just one goal in 48 games - picked up a loose puck 29.45 in and beat Pitton on the powerplay for the second time as the Rays countered a shorthanded break from the Flyers to which Ben Bowns was equal.
Two minutes later and with the Stingrays again plying pressure on the Fife net, Lovdahl tangled with Flyers defenceman Zach Carriveau in front of Pitton, eventually dropping the gloves for his fourth scrap of the year.
The successful fight completed an eventful game for the American blueliner in a man of the match worthy performance, though, at the time, there was still plenty of work for Lovdahl and his teammates to do to close the game out at 2-1 heading into the final period.
Indeed, the Flyers came out strongly in the third period and were able to pen Sylvain Cloutier's side in their own end for large portions, plying pressure on the Stingrays net and eventually outshooting them 13-9 in the final stanza.
However, with captain Kurtis Dulle leading from the back in a brilliant all-round performance, Martin Ondrej again proving his worth defensively, Lovdahl enjoying himself and Bowns in fine form, the Rays held strong and - one or two hairy moments aside - claimed two more invaluable points on their quest to make the playoffs.
This weekend's victories have sent Cloutier's side to the top of the Gardiner Conference on 33 points, admittedly having played more games than every team in the conference and with just two conference games remaining.
In order to qualify for the playoffs as conference winners, the Rays must win their two remaining Gardiner Conference games against Dundee and then hope the other four sides continue to take points off each other in equal measures.
As far as the league is concerned, the Stingrays remain bottom on 39 points but wins over seventh placed Fife and eighth placed Braehead this weekend have narrowed the gap to the playoffs to just one point.
It's still a mighty hill to climb, however, the current three game win streak has done wonders for the Stingrays - who it seemed might be down and out following defeat in Fife on 23rd February.
By finally putting a winning streak together, the Rays - who were visibly tiring as tonight's game wore on after a big win in Glasgow last night - are giving themselves every chance to extend their season into the post-season, whether it's a little bit too little, too late remains to be seen.
Next Saturday's home game against Dundee is other big game in a long line of massive fixtures that will end continue until Sunday 24th March when the Rays close their season with a home game against the Coventry Blaze.
FBB Three Stars
1. Kurtis Dulle
2. Shane Lovdahl
3. Ben Bowns
Image © Keith Mould
