AUDIO: Cloutier excited about Conference title run-in

After missing out on the play-offs last season, the East Yorkshire club look a certain shoo-in for the post-season this time around.

With 11 games remaining they sit sixth in the overall Elite League standings, 10 points clear of the bottom two. But it is in the Gardiner Conference where they have a stronger grip on their own destiny, currently sitting top of the table but with Dundee Stars and Braehead Clan in hot pursuit.

A Conference title is likely to guarantee a second seeding in the play-offs and, in theory, a more favourable draw in order to reach the final four weekend at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham.

Tonight sees Hull head to Braehead looking to increase the three-point Conference advantage they currently have over their Scottish rivals, who do have a game in hand,

Dundee remain the main threat to Hull’s Conference hopes, sitting in second place, two points behind with three games in hand. Crucially, however, Hull do have to face the Stars three more times in the remaining weeks of the regular season.

So far this season, Cloutier’s team have won five out of the six previous meetings and complete the eight-game series against the Clan at home next Wednesday.

Cloutier realises there is a lot at stake in the remaining weeks of the regular season, but believes his team can control their own play-off destiny if they maintain the kind of form shown for most of this season.

“It’s a very important match for us,” admitted Cloutier. “Obviously if Braehead beat us it lets them back into the race, but if we can pull off a win up there it means they will really have to win their games in hand on us.

To listen to Sylvain Cloutier talk about his side’s encounter at Braehead click HERE

“But winning the Gardiner Conference title is still in our own hands. Some people are saying that if we lose in Braehead then we’re in trouble, but we’re not because we’ve got them at home next Wednesday so if we do lose up there and then win at home next week we’re back to square one.

“Missing out last season hurt, it’s not like we had a bad season and we only finished two points behind Braehead who won our Conference.

“But we’ve added some new pieces here in Hull and I really like our team. It’s competitive and it’s fun to be battling for a Conference title.”

“All the matches have been so close between us and Braehead this season - they are well coached, they’ve got a good team and I’m convinced this is going to be another close game.”