Audio: Cloutier eyes success over former club

Hull have pushed Coventry close in their last two encounters and Cloutier – who helped the West Midlands side to two league titles in 2007 and 2008 – believes last week's victories over Belfast Giants and Sheffield will have given his players the perfect confidence boost.

"We've got to give our guys credit because they've worked extremely hard and have kept believing," said Cloutier.

To listen to Sylvain Cloutier on his team's recent upturn click PLAY

"We had a good weekend against Coventry last time - they told us after the second game that we were one of the best sides they had faced in recent weeks.

"We were unlucky not to get anything out of those two games, we almost came back from conceding four early goals at ours before going to their place and only losing out to two goals in the last few minutes.

"It's about time we beat them. They have lost Adam Calder who is their leader and that is a blow for them, but they have so many other guys who can score goals."

Hull start their weekend at home to Cardiff Devils on Saturday, a team possessing threats all over the ice, said Cloutier.

He added: "I had them down at the start of the season to be one of those teams to be up there.

"Gerad Adams has put together a really good team and they have a good mix."