Agony for Stingrays after double defeat

Defeats at home to Cardiff Devils and – more importantly – on the road at Dundee Stars last night, have left Hull’s post-season hopes hanging by a thread.

As well as beating Sheffield Steelers and Coventry Blaze next week, Hull also require at least two of three Scottish rivals to lose their remaining games.

The odds are stacked against Sylvain Cloutier’s team – they have yet to beat the Steelers this season and have only bettered Coventry once in five previous outings between the two.

When added to the unlikely event of enough results elsewhere also going their way, it doesn’t look promising for the East Yorkshire club.

But, while it is still mathematically possible, there remains hope.

Two goals apiece for Billy Bagron and Mike Wirll, together with another strike from Matt Baxter did for the Stingrays on Tayside, although player-coach Cloutier, goaltender Ben Bowns and forward Dominic Osman all received game misconduct penalties on a frustrating night for the visitors.

On Saturday at home to Cardiff, Osman and top scorer Jereme Tendler got on the target but strikes from Ben Davies (2), Stuart MacRae and Chris Blight saw the points go the way of the visitors.

Sheffield Steelers enjoyed a positive two days ahead of the first leg of their Challenge Cup final against Nottingham Panthers on Wednesday night.

Ryan Finnerty’s side hammered Coventry 8-3 at the Skydome Arena on Saturday before edging out Cardiff 4-3 on home ice last night.

Ashley Tait, Jonathan Phillips, Jeff Legue, Danny Meyers and James Jorgensen put them 5-0 ahead before Coventry eventually got on the board.

Steven Goertzen, Legue and Phillips then completed the rout.

Against Cardiff, Legue and Tait again found the target with Shawn Limpright and Tylor Michel also finding the net to seal a deserved four-point weekend.