Hull Stingrays 5-2 Braehead Clan
Thanks to an outstanding 45 save effort from netminder Ben Bowns, the Hull Stingrays tonight claimed their first win of the 2013/2014 Elite League campaign with 5-2 victory over Gardiner Conference title favourites the Braehead Clan at Hull Arena.
GB international Bowns stood tall for the Stingrays from moment one as his side got off to a nervy start allowing the Clan to dominate early proceedings and craft some good half chances.
With Bowns in form and denying the Clan at the other end, the Rays first chance came through Guillaume Doucet, whose speed created a shorthanded breakaway, only for Clan netminder Kyle Jones to deny the Canadian. The puck was kept alive following Jones' save and the Clan would counter with a swift a 3-on-1, which Bowns then stopped before also stopping the ensuing rebound.
Jones would play bigger part for the Clan as period wore on and as the Stingrays offence grew in confidence, eventually outshooting the Clan 15-13 in the first.
The Stingrays would soon take a 1-0 lead on 10.48 thanks to easily their best period of play in the opening 20 minutes and, probably, the whole game.
Catching the Clan just prior to a line change, the Rays second line of Sylvain Cloutier, Derek Campbell and Jason Silverthorn pinned the visitors in their own end. Having visibly tired their opponents, rookie defenceman Jamie Chilcott then made a rush to the net from the blueline unmarked and slotted home Jason Silverthorn's pinpoint pass. The goal was Chilcott's first senior goal, adding to the assist he recorded in the Rays defeat in Nottingham and to the very impressive start he has made to life at Elite League level.
Although they had been mostly second best in the first period, the home side carried the 1-0 lead into the second period but faced even more Braehead pressure in the middle stanza.
An early penalty on Doucet 24 seconds in to the second period gave the Clan the ideal chance to build off the momentum they had created either side of the Rays goal in the first and they would use that to control early exchanges. However, despite again controlling large swathes of the play, a combination of an in form netminder and some poor finishing saw Ryan Finnerty's side come up empty handed in the second period with their best chance ringing off the base of the post early in the period.
In complete contrast, the Stingrays would have just six shots in the second period and would convert three goals. Jereme Tendler - who recorded two goals on Saturday night in Nottingham - doubled the Stingrays lead with typically clinical powerplay goal on 8.28, beating Jones gloveside after the puck kindly fell to him in the slot.
Up to this point the Clan had been dominant and were 2-0 down but - given their offensive firepower - were still more than capable of getting themselves back in the game. However, the game was turned on its head at 32 minute mark thanks to two shorthanded goals.
With Cloutier in the box for delay of game, Matty Davies chased down a puck dumped in the Clan end before playing a simple pass to Doucet - who was unbelievably unmarked in the slot and scored for a 3-0 lead against the run of play.
Just 57 seconds later and still shorthanded, Tendler beat a Clan forward to the puck down low in the Rays defensive zone and found Campbell - who split the Clan defence and broke in on goal before firing home a pinpoint wristshot for a 3-0 lead
Somewhat unbelievably, the Clan now trailed the Stingrays heading into the third period having dominated possession and having outshot the home side 17-6 in the second period.
It took 30 shots and 41 minutes but the Clan finally beat Bowns early in the third period with former Basingstoke and Nottingham forward Kevin Bergin - who was arguably their standout player - tapping home at the backpost on the powerplay. Alarm bells then briefly began to ring for the Rays as Campbell took a hooking minor very shortly after the Clan's opening goal as the momentum appeared to be swinging in the favour of a comeback.
The Stingrays penalty kill was outstanding all night though, with a 90% success rate, as was their hard-work and committed approach in the defensive zone, and they killed off the man advantage.
Though Braehead continued to push for further goals - and again outshot the Rays in the third, this time 17-9 - it would be the Stingrays that scored next goal and effectively killed the tie off as a contest. Doucet added his second of the night on 48.14 with a very nicely worked powerplay goal that completed a successful night for his sides special teams with a 50% powerplay conversion rate to add to the penalty kill success.
With the game now decided in the home sides favour, Matt Towe would add a very late consolation goal on 59.40 to complete the scoring for the night but take none of the shine off the Rays victory - their first of the 13/14 season.
In reality, Braehead had more than enough chances to win the game and bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Dundee on opening night but either couldn't beat Bowns - who stopped 45 of 47 shots - or fluffed their lines. While Bowns was outstanding between the pipes and thoroughly deserved man of the match, the Clan's firepower on paper suggests they will likely not be as wasteful on their future visits to Hull in the season ahead.
Although it is fair to say the Stingrays were dominated in the shots and possession stakes, their commitment particularly defensively across the team stood out above all else. That was exemplified by the play of alternate captain Jeff Smith - who had quite comfortably his best game in the yellow and blue and was both physical and reassuring defensively - and was, alongside Bowns, one of the Rays top performers tonight.
Still, after being outshot 47-30 at home, there are quite clearly improvements to be made defensively with netminder Bowns called upon far too often to bail his side out.
The addition of Kyle Mariani, hopefully within the next week, should further strengthen a defensive ranks that appears to be one of the deepest in Stingrays history - thanks in part to the play of Chilcott.
Offensively, the fact that so many are talking about Doucet's recent performances, and yet last season's topscorer Tendler already has three goals and two assists, highlights the improvements Cloutier has made to his offence this summer - taking the game in, game out pressure off Tendler.
Doucet has undoubtedly caught the eye in pre-season and has started very well this weekend with two goals and two assists in two games. It is however important that he receives the required protection from his teammates as he is likely to be targeted in a not dissimilar way to Janis Ozolins last season. In addition to Doucet though, the Stingrays have Silverthorn - who recorded three assists this evening - on five points, Campbell on four points and Carl Lauzon - a top scorer in France during the last three years - yet to come into the squad, which bodes well for the Stingrays.
Next up for Cloutier and his squad is the Cardiff Devils at home in the Challenge Cup next Sunday prior to a midweek fixture in the same competition against the Sheffield Steelers at Ice Sheffield.
GB international Bowns stood tall for the Stingrays from moment one as his side got off to a nervy start allowing the Clan to dominate early proceedings and craft some good half chances.
With Bowns in form and denying the Clan at the other end, the Rays first chance came through Guillaume Doucet, whose speed created a shorthanded breakaway, only for Clan netminder Kyle Jones to deny the Canadian. The puck was kept alive following Jones' save and the Clan would counter with a swift a 3-on-1, which Bowns then stopped before also stopping the ensuing rebound.
Jones would play bigger part for the Clan as period wore on and as the Stingrays offence grew in confidence, eventually outshooting the Clan 15-13 in the first.
The Stingrays would soon take a 1-0 lead on 10.48 thanks to easily their best period of play in the opening 20 minutes and, probably, the whole game.
Catching the Clan just prior to a line change, the Rays second line of Sylvain Cloutier, Derek Campbell and Jason Silverthorn pinned the visitors in their own end. Having visibly tired their opponents, rookie defenceman Jamie Chilcott then made a rush to the net from the blueline unmarked and slotted home Jason Silverthorn's pinpoint pass. The goal was Chilcott's first senior goal, adding to the assist he recorded in the Rays defeat in Nottingham and to the very impressive start he has made to life at Elite League level.
Although they had been mostly second best in the first period, the home side carried the 1-0 lead into the second period but faced even more Braehead pressure in the middle stanza.
An early penalty on Doucet 24 seconds in to the second period gave the Clan the ideal chance to build off the momentum they had created either side of the Rays goal in the first and they would use that to control early exchanges. However, despite again controlling large swathes of the play, a combination of an in form netminder and some poor finishing saw Ryan Finnerty's side come up empty handed in the second period with their best chance ringing off the base of the post early in the period.
In complete contrast, the Stingrays would have just six shots in the second period and would convert three goals. Jereme Tendler - who recorded two goals on Saturday night in Nottingham - doubled the Stingrays lead with typically clinical powerplay goal on 8.28, beating Jones gloveside after the puck kindly fell to him in the slot.
Up to this point the Clan had been dominant and were 2-0 down but - given their offensive firepower - were still more than capable of getting themselves back in the game. However, the game was turned on its head at 32 minute mark thanks to two shorthanded goals.
With Cloutier in the box for delay of game, Matty Davies chased down a puck dumped in the Clan end before playing a simple pass to Doucet - who was unbelievably unmarked in the slot and scored for a 3-0 lead against the run of play.
Just 57 seconds later and still shorthanded, Tendler beat a Clan forward to the puck down low in the Rays defensive zone and found Campbell - who split the Clan defence and broke in on goal before firing home a pinpoint wristshot for a 3-0 lead
Somewhat unbelievably, the Clan now trailed the Stingrays heading into the third period having dominated possession and having outshot the home side 17-6 in the second period.
It took 30 shots and 41 minutes but the Clan finally beat Bowns early in the third period with former Basingstoke and Nottingham forward Kevin Bergin - who was arguably their standout player - tapping home at the backpost on the powerplay. Alarm bells then briefly began to ring for the Rays as Campbell took a hooking minor very shortly after the Clan's opening goal as the momentum appeared to be swinging in the favour of a comeback.
The Stingrays penalty kill was outstanding all night though, with a 90% success rate, as was their hard-work and committed approach in the defensive zone, and they killed off the man advantage.
Though Braehead continued to push for further goals - and again outshot the Rays in the third, this time 17-9 - it would be the Stingrays that scored next goal and effectively killed the tie off as a contest. Doucet added his second of the night on 48.14 with a very nicely worked powerplay goal that completed a successful night for his sides special teams with a 50% powerplay conversion rate to add to the penalty kill success.
With the game now decided in the home sides favour, Matt Towe would add a very late consolation goal on 59.40 to complete the scoring for the night but take none of the shine off the Rays victory - their first of the 13/14 season.
In reality, Braehead had more than enough chances to win the game and bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Dundee on opening night but either couldn't beat Bowns - who stopped 45 of 47 shots - or fluffed their lines. While Bowns was outstanding between the pipes and thoroughly deserved man of the match, the Clan's firepower on paper suggests they will likely not be as wasteful on their future visits to Hull in the season ahead.
Although it is fair to say the Stingrays were dominated in the shots and possession stakes, their commitment particularly defensively across the team stood out above all else. That was exemplified by the play of alternate captain Jeff Smith - who had quite comfortably his best game in the yellow and blue and was both physical and reassuring defensively - and was, alongside Bowns, one of the Rays top performers tonight.
Still, after being outshot 47-30 at home, there are quite clearly improvements to be made defensively with netminder Bowns called upon far too often to bail his side out.
The addition of Kyle Mariani, hopefully within the next week, should further strengthen a defensive ranks that appears to be one of the deepest in Stingrays history - thanks in part to the play of Chilcott.
Offensively, the fact that so many are talking about Doucet's recent performances, and yet last season's topscorer Tendler already has three goals and two assists, highlights the improvements Cloutier has made to his offence this summer - taking the game in, game out pressure off Tendler.
Doucet has undoubtedly caught the eye in pre-season and has started very well this weekend with two goals and two assists in two games. It is however important that he receives the required protection from his teammates as he is likely to be targeted in a not dissimilar way to Janis Ozolins last season. In addition to Doucet though, the Stingrays have Silverthorn - who recorded three assists this evening - on five points, Campbell on four points and Carl Lauzon - a top scorer in France during the last three years - yet to come into the squad, which bodes well for the Stingrays.
Next up for Cloutier and his squad is the Cardiff Devils at home in the Challenge Cup next Sunday prior to a midweek fixture in the same competition against the Sheffield Steelers at Ice Sheffield.
FBB Three Stars
1. Ben Bowns (45 saves)
2. Guillaume Doucet (2+1)
3. Jeff Smith (0+0)
