Stingrays comeback thwarted by late Belfast powerplay goal

Hull Stingrays 2-3 Belfast Giants

The Hull Stingrays tonight came back from two goals down in the third period to draw level with Erhardt Conference side the Belfast Giants, only to concede a late powerplay goal and lose out three goals to two.

The home side - who entered the game on the back of four consecutive losses - found themselves two goals down after two periods thanks to powerplay goals from Kevin Saurette (15.09) - who has a phomenal scoring record against the Stingrays - and Dustin Whitecotton (25.52).

However, having outshot their opponents in the opening two periods, the Stingrays finally came good in the third.

First, Jereme Tendler found the net just two minutes and 48 seconds into the final period with the Rays only powerplay goal on six attempts on the night. Derek Campbell then bagged his league leading third shorthanded goal of the season with less than seven minutes remaining to level the scores.

Just as it looked as though the Stingrays might notch at least their third point of the season, the Giants recorded their third powerplay goal of the evening on their sixth attempt with Kyle Mariani sitting two minutes for interference.

Ben Bowns - who stopped 31 of 34 shots going up against GB number on Stephen Murphy - was then pulled and it had looked like the Rays might've once again leveled in the final minute, however, the goal was not given and the Giants held on for the win.

Although the Stingrays largely matched the Giants blow for blow and that, in itself, should prove to be a confidence boost for Sylvain Cloutier, the Rays coach and his players will be disappointed not to convert the comeback into a much needed win.

Now on a five game losing streak, it is important the Rays use the momentum from tonight's improved performance in next weekend's home and away double header against the in-form Dundee Stars.

The Stars have lost just two of nine games so far this season - having already beaten Cardiff, Coventry, Nottingham and Sheffield as well as Gardiner Conference sides Braehead and Edinburgh - and will inevitably prove a tough challenge.

Match Highlights: Coventry Blaze 7-4 Hull Stingrays

Match Highlights: Hull Stingrays 3-5 Edinburgh Capitals

Stingrays special team woes continue in Coventry defeat

Coventry Blaze 7-4 Hull Stingrays (CC)

The Hull Stingrays faint hopes of reaching the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals were dealt what will likely prove to be a fatal blow tonight as they were comfortably beaten 7-4 by a Coventry Blaze side that were forced to ice back-up netminder Adam Goss for more than 50 minuts.

Adam Henrich opened the scoring with the first of two goals on the night at 10.50 before Brits Bobby Chamberlain and Matt Selby dropped the gloves moments later. Early reports suggest Coventry defenceman Selby may have just got the better of the Stingrays forward.

For the second time in a week, the Stingrays would be up against a backup netminder in the Challenge Cup as Coventry starter Mike Zacharias was replaced by Goss after just 13 minutes due to injury.

The Rays would fire just three shots on Goss in the remaining seven minutes of the first period.

Ryan Ginand (PPG) netted his eighth of the season to double Coventry's lead nearly five minutes into the second period. However, the Stingrays quickly rebounded from the goal, scoring through Jason Silverthorn and then Guillaume Doucet to tie the score prior to the halfway point of the game.

Michael Henrich (PPG) struck to make it 3-2 on 38 minutes but it would be the Stingrays that would have the last laugh in the second period, netting a shorthanded goal on the buzzer to tie the game through Matty Davies.

The goal was the Stingrays fourth shorthanded goal of the year, tying the exact number of powerplay goals they have recorded so far this year. That stat itself highlights how poor the Stingrays man advantage - which went 0-on-8 last night and 0-on-3 tonight - has been early in the season and, to a lesser extent, how offensively minded their penalty kill has been.

While the Stingrays powerplay has generally been substandard so far this season, the penalty kill has, ignoring two costly powerplay goals last night, on the whole been solid.

However, two Blaze powerplay goals in the opening three minutes of the final period opened up an unassailable 5-3 lead for the home side and ensured the Stingrays penalty kill would concede four goals on six Coventry attempts.

Where the Stingrays powerplay probably cost them against Edinburgh after failing to convert in eight opportunities, the penalty kill cost them tonight against the Blaze.

Doucet would add a second of the night on 46.03 but the damage had been done early in the period and the Blaze went on to add further goals through Adam Henrich and Ashley Tait for a comfortable 7-4 win.

The defeat leaves the Stingrays with no points from four straight Challenge Cup losses and what must surely be the impossible task of reaching the next stage.

Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier had targeted six points in order to qualify for the Quarter Finals, meaning, if it were possible to qualify with six points, they would now require three wins from their remaining four games.

One positive is that three of their final four Challenge Cup fixtures come at home, however, in current form it seems unlikely the Rays will once again be gracing the Quarter Final stage of the competition.

Their final four Challenge Cup fixtures come at home to Nottingham on 13th October, away to Cardiff on 31st October, at home to Sheffield on 2nd November and at home to Coventry on 30th November. 

Hiadlovsky condemns Stingrays to fourth defeat

Hull Stingrays 3-5 Edinburgh Capitals

The Hull Stingrays are still searching for their second win of the 13/14 season thanks to a game winning 47 save effort from Edinburgh Capitals netminder Tomas Hiadlovsky in a 5-3 loss to the Scottish side at Hull Arena.

For the first time at home this season the Stingrays lined up at full strength with import defenceman Jeff Smith back in the line-up, while the visitors were still without import forward Les Reaney - who is still awaiting his visa.

Though it was the visitors that had the game's first chance with the game only seconds old - as they forced Stingrays netminder Ben Bowns into a comforable glove save - it was the home side that should have been at least one goal up within the first five minutes as both Jereme Tendler and Guillaume Doucet were denied on separate occasions.

Hiadlovsky would again be called into action moments later after good work from Bobby Chamberlain down low in the offensive zone, only to deny the Stingrays again.

With the Slovakian netminder already proving to be a formidable barrier in the Caps net, it was with some relief that on rushing defenceman Omar Pacha was able to squeeze the puck in between the netminder and his short side post for a 1-0 Stingrays lead on 3.46

Fellow new signing Doucet then doubled the lead less than a minute later and it was at this point that the opening of the floodgates seemed imminent. Stealing the puck off defenceman Martin Lucka on his own blueline, Doucet used the extra man on the ensuing 2-on-1 as a decoy before scoring his third of the season.

Had the game continued at this rate there was only ever going to be one winner. However, a minute and 24 seconds later a speculative effort from Tomas Horna somehow found its way past Bowns. Despite being outshot 18-9 in the first period, the Caps were miraculously and completely against the run of play back in the game on a goal the Rays netminder will surely want back.

After controlling more or less the whole of the opening 20 minutes - only to allow the visitors to pull a goal back - the last thing the Stingrays wanted to do 16 seconds into the second period was concede. Unfortunately for Cloutier and his side, that is exactly what they did.

With Jeff Smith sitting a hooking minor penalty, Edinburgh broke into the Rays zone from opening face-off and, after a well worked move between standout forward Horna and defenceman Jan Safar, equalised through Curtis Leinweber.

Just over five minutes later, Leinweber would have his second of the night as he re-directed a powerful Safar point shot on the powerplay to give Richard Hartmann's side a 3-2 lead. Although the Capitals struggled in the opening period, they controlled large parts of the second period and began to frustrate the Stingrays offensive as Hiadlovsky continued to stand tall - stopping 17 second period shots as his side were again heavily outshot 17-6.

Knowing they needed to drastically improve on their second period showing, the home side came out with renewed drive and vigor in the third period and immediately set up in the Capitals offensive zone.

That early third period pressure soon told as they leveled the score at 3-3 on 45.41 with a goal that would surely swing the momentum of the game in their favour.

Big things are expected of latest arrival Carl Lauzon - who arrived in the country a week ago - and the Stingrays third summer from the French top flight tonight began to show glimpses of what he is capable of, none more so than on the Rays third goal.

Showing the type of urgency that they required at 3-2 down with less than 15 minutes to play, Lauzon broke across the Caps blueline and skillfully dropped the puck to Derek Campbell. Campbell then picked out the French-Canadian with a wonderful return pass that forced Hiadlovsky to shift his attention back to the on rushing forward, meaning he was out of position and therefore allowing Lauzon to shoot into the gaping net.

Although there is still clearly lots more to come from the French-Canadian - who is settling down in a new country, culture and league - his split second impact and that lovely drop pass to Campbell as well as pinpoint finish was a flash of brilliance in an otherwise poor night from a Stingrays point of view.

Having worked hard to get back into the game, with Lauzon's goal a potential game-changer, the Stingrays undid all that good work just five minutes later as they pushed for another goal.

That offensive pressure saw defenceman Kyle Mariani fluff an undecided, attempted shot from the blueline, giving away puck possession and allowing Edinburgh to counter-attack. On the resulting counter-attack, the Caps would score what would prove to be the game winning goal through longtime forward Martin Cingel in front of the Stingrays net, following hard work down low from Peter Holecko.

The goal killed the Rays momentum and forced them to regroup and look for another leveler. Though Hiadlovsky was again called into action as the game wore down - stopping another 13 shots as the Stingrays outshot the Caps 14-7 in the third and 50-21 overall - the damage had been done. The Caps shut up shop in the closing moments and clung on to a hard fought win and a vital two points with the Rays were unable to tie the game for a third time.

Edinburgh player-coach Hartmann would add a last second empty net goal to complete the 5-3 defeat - which condemns the Stingrays to their fourth loss in five games and gives his side their first victory of the season.

Although the Stingrays were dominant throughout in terms of possession and shots on goal and, in fairness most statistical categories, the visitors ruled the roost in two key areas: netminding and special teams.

Where Bowns - whose only mistake shouldn't have had any bearing on the result - stopped 16 of 20 shots, Hiadlovsky denied an impressive 47 of 50 as the Stingrays offence came up empty when the game was in the balance.

Likewise, where the Capitals scored two goals on five powerplay opportunities, the Stingrays slumped to no goals on eight powerplay opportunities. It is clear to see that the Rays man advantage is struggling and has so far had problems creating real scoring opportunities. Indeed, they are often left frustrated and unable to get one-time shots on goal from the point - which seems to be their main focus- with shots blocked, mishit or opted out of due to a lack of sight on net.

Equally as worrying is that Cloutier's side have now suffered two irreversible second period collapses in two weeks having led heading into the middle stanza.

They will be hoping to buck that trend and their three game losing skid tomorrow night in a Challenge Cup fixture in Coventry before a home tie against the Belfast Giants next Sunday.

FBB Three Stars

1. Omar Pacha (1+0)

2. Matty Davies (0+1)

3. Jamie Chilcott (0+0)

Match Highlights: Sheffield Steelers 4-3 Hull Stingrays (CC)

Stingrays' Challenge Cup hopes dashed in narrow defeat

Sheffield Steelers 4-3 Hull Stingrays (Challenge Cup)

The Hull Stingrays chances of reaching the Challenge Cup Quarter Finals for a second consecutive year appear remote after they were tonight handed their third defeat in the competition this season, losing out 4-3 to the Sheffield Steelers at Ice Sheffield.

As they did against Cardiff on Sunday, the Stingrays opened the scored with Jereme Tendler netting his fourth goal of the season after just two minutes with assists from Martin Ondrej and Omar Pacha.

The Steelers leveled on the 15 minute mark through captain Jonathan Phillips before Maxim Lacroix gave the home side the lead 6.14 into the second period.

Tendler struck again nine minutes later with assists this time coming through Brits Bobby Chamberlain and Matty Davies, however, Stefan Meyer would score as the period was drawing to a close to give the Steelers a 3-2 lead heading into the final period.

Derek Campbell - who recorded a hat-trick on his last visit to Ice Sheffield for the Stingrays against the Steelers - equalised on the powerplay just 43 seconds into the final period via assists from Jason Silverthorn and Tendler - who recorded his third point of the night and eighth of the season.

However, it would be the Steelers that would have the final say as British forward Aaron Nell scored the game winning goal on the powerplay at 44.11.

The defeat will make it extremely difficult for the Stingrays to progress to the Quarter Final from Challenge Cup Group B following defeats against Nottingham (9-3) and Cardiff (4-3).

Sylvain Cloutier's side have still to play Nottingham, Sheffield and Coventry at the Hull Arena as well as Coventry and Cardiff away but face the daunting task of likely needing to win the vast majority of those fixtures including both games against the Coventry Blaze in order to progress.

Stingrays let three goal lead slip in Challenge Cup defeat to Cardiff

Hull Stingrays 3-4 Cardiff Devils

The Hull Stingrays tonight led the Cardiff Devils 3-0 after just 22 minutes, only for the Welsh side to strike back with four consecutive second period goals and to eventually hold on to a 4-3 Challenge Cup Group B win.

On balance, it was a deserved victory for the visitors - who were forced to dress back-up netminder Joe Myers with starting netminder Dan Lacosta injured and loan signing Greg Blais unable to play against his parent club - as they dominated from the opening face-off and for large parts of the opening two periods.

In fact, the Devils came out so strongly that it took the home side 12 minutes to muster their first meaningful possession.

Ben Bowns time and again denied the Devils during their opening siege on the Rays net in a wonderful first period performance. Nevertheless, for all their chances and possession in the opening half of the period, it would be the the Stingrays that would open the scoring after just one shot.

The Rays first real puck possession came courtesy of Derek Campbell, Jason Silverthorn and debutant Carl Lauzon - who cycled the puck between themselves in the Cardiff zone - before Silverthorn drew a penalty from Devils defecenamn Brad Plumton.

On the ensuing powerplay, an Omar Pacha point shot was blocked high up before falling at the feet of former Devil Silverthorn - who one timed the Rays first shot of the game past Myers for a 1-0 lead.

Having waited 13 minutes for a shot, the Stingrays made it near enough two goals in two shots just 71 seconds later as Matty Davies was put in on the breakaway by a long pass from the defensive end by Guillaume Doucet.

Davies miscontrolled the puck as he broke in on the Devils net but, having waited so long for his first shot of the night only to immediately allow a goal, netminder Myers was understandably indecisive about coming for the puck, eventually allowing a diving Davies to bizarrely chip the puck home from close in for a 2-0 lead.

Unbelievably and quite against the run of play, the Stingrays now fortuitously led thanks to some brilliant netminding in their own end and relatively poor netminding at the other.

It truly was a tale of two netminders as GB international Bowns stopped all 14 first period shots thrown at him, while opposite number Myers allowed two goals on just four shots - with at least one of the two saves he made a debatable shot on goal.

Following the first period it was patently clear to the Devils that, in order to win the game, they simply had to protect their netminder better and that would become much more obvious as the game wore on.

Nevertheless, despite again coming out strongly, that wouldn't stop the Stingrays taking a 3-0 lead just 2.49 into the second period. With captain Matt Suderman sitting a roughing penalty, Campbell was put through on a shorthanded breakaway, following a Bowns save and an outlet pass from Martin Ondrej, and outwaited the Cardiff netminder to net the Rays third of the night.

That would be as good as it got for the Rays in both the second period and in the game though as their opponents intense and physical style of play soon paid off.

First, Phil Hill notched a powerplay goal on 35.17 before two goals from standout Cardiff forward Andrew Lord - with what turned out to be the game winning goal in the final minute of the period - and another from Chris Blight as the Devils finally made the Stingrays pay

Bowns was given no chance on any of the Cardiff goals with his defence too often collapsing on top of him, allowing the Devils to set up in the zone and create traffic in front, making it difficult for the netminder to pick up on the puck with at least two of the goals long range efforts from the blueline.

The 4-3 advantage the Devils held heading into the third was no more than they deserved, in fact there is an argument to say that had it not been for the varying quality in netminding at both ends the scoreline would have looked a lot diffierent as the final 20 minutes began.

Regardless, the Stingrays finally came out of their shells somewhat in the third period and started to show some offensive capabilities but came up against a determined Cardiff side that dug in defensively.

Arguably the highlight of the night came on 44 minutes as Martin Ondrej levelled Cardiff enforcer Andrew Conboy - who took up the role of pantomime villain for the evening - in a lovely open ice hit close to the team benches

The game became increasingly chippy as the third period wore on and Sylvain Cloutier's side were given a number of powerplay opportunities - having had just one in the opening 40 minutes - but were unable to level.

Despite coming up against an inexperienced back-up, far too often the Rays elected not to shoot and instead attempt to set up the one timer or a perfect play low down. On the occasions they did shoot, they either fired wide or the committed Cardiff defence put their bodies in the way and blocked the shot.

The home side were again outshot in the third period, giving the Devils a 42-17 shot advantage overall, however, but for the Stingrays resistance to shooting and the shots blocked by the Devils, the outcome of the shots on goal and, indeed, the game may have been different.

As Cardiff looked to close out the game on a 5-on-3 - with Bowns then pulled for a 6-on-3 - Plumton dropped the gloves with Stingrays forward Campbell in a nothing scuffle with both falling to the floor before another Devil got involved. Suderman - who earlier received a ten-minute misconduct penalty was incensed at referee James Ashton as the final buzzer went and there were clearly some calls that the Stingrays bench were unhappy with but few could have complaints about the final result on the night.

One of the few positives for Cloutier may be that this was a Challlenge Cup fixture and, although they were able to qualify for the Quarter Finals last season at the demise of Cardiff, they may prefer to focus on their league and conference campaign.

Regardless, Cloutier will surely have wanted to have seen a better performance from his side - particularly offensively against a back-up netminder - and they will have to improve heading into Wednesday's Challenge Cup fixture in Sheffield against the Steelers - who will be wanting to rebound for a costly defeat to in form Dundee tonight.

FBB Three Stars

1. Ben Bowns (38 saves)

2. Martin Ondrej (0+1)

3. Kyle Mariani (0+0)

Blais loaned to Devils; Robson joins NIHL on two-way deal; former Stingray news

Hull Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier has had a busy week juggling his squad ahead of Challenge Cup fixtures against the Cardiff Devils on Sunday and against the Sheffield Steelers in South Yorkshire of Wednesday.

As well as awaiting the arrival of new import signings Kyle Mariani and Carl Lauzon, the Stingays boss has also offered two of his depth players the chance to gain ice-time elsewhere.

On Wednesday, it was announced that backup netminder - and 12th import - Greg Blais had joined Erhardt Conference side Cardiff on a two-week loan deal.

The 33 year old netminder - who stopped 9 of 11 shots in relief of Ben Bowns in the Rays opening fixture a week ago against the Nottingham Panthers - joins the Devils as a temporary replacement for injured starting netminder Dan LaCosta.

The deal, which will last for two-weeks while Lacosta recovers from a head injury sustained in pre-season, includes a clause which means Blais cannot play against the Stingrays this weekend. He will make his debut in the Welsh capital on Saturday against the Braehead Clan with Joe Myers starting in Hull on Sunday before fixtures next weekend in Dundee and against Nottingham.

Cardiff player-coach Gerad Adams said:

“Greg will give us another option and demonstrates the proactive approach from the club to find import cover and to work with Joe to help us win hockey games. Whilst it has been challenging this week we are focussed and know what we need to do.”

Following the temporary departure of Blais, Cloutier has also allowed young defenceman Scott Robson to join the NIHL's Blackburn Hawks on a two-way contract.

The 18 year old - who made his Elite League debut with the Rays last season, dressing in 37 games - is highly rated by the Stingrays. However, with the club now able to boast an eight man blueline following the arrival of Mariani, the GB junior international has been allowed to join the Hawks in order to gain valuable and regular ice-time.

The two-way deal will see Robson - who lived and grew up in the North West - primarily ice for the Hawks in the NIHL North 1 while dressing with the Stingrays when the Hawks don't have a fixture or if required by the Stingrays.

On adding Robson to his squad, Hawks player-coach Jared Owen said:

“Scott has been training in Blackburn during the summer and has really impressed me, Dangie and the team with his ability on the ice. He approached us earlier this year and said that Hull were looking for him to get more regular ice time and continue his development. Once the opportunity presented itself we jumped at it. Scott has previously played with the Blackburn Juniors and we’ve been following his career so far with interest. He’s played in the top-tier of hockey in this country and you can see a real difference in his game since training and playing in the Elite League over the last season. We’re really grateful to Sylvain Cloutier and the Hull Stingrays organization for giving us the chance to benefit from the two-way deal and I’m sure he will become a very welcome addition to the team for the new season.”

In former player news, forward Dominic Osman will join the Southern Professional Hockey League's Huntsville Havoc this season.

Osman - who was signed to provide the Stingrays secondary scoring in 2010 - was well liked thanks to his gritty, hardworking style of play during his two season's in Hull - where he hitting 25 and 26 goal seasons as well as 83 points in 120 games.

Having left Hull in April, he moved down under to spend the summer with the Newcastle North Stars of the Australian Ice Hockey League.

He helped the North Stars to a second placed league finish with 18 goals and 51 points - eighth in the AIHL. In the post-season the North Stars progressed to the playoff final but - despite a hat-trick from Osman - were defeated 6-3 by the Sydney Ice Dogs - who lifted the Goodall Cup.

Meanwhile, last season's fan favourite Ryan Hand looks set to return to the Central Hockey League.

The 28 year old enforcer - who recorded two goals and 15 assists as well as 266 penalty minutes and 13 fighting majors last season in Hull - had originally agreed to join the Cornwall RiverKings of the LNAH - a league renowned for fighting.

However, his agent has announced he will instead return to the CHL - where he has previously spent three years of his career, recording two goals, six assists and 302 penalty minutes in 123 games.

Bowns leads clinical Stingrays to win over Clan

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.

FBB Three Stars

1. Ben Bowns (45 saves)

2. Guillaume Doucet (2+1)

3. Jeff Smith (0+0)