Cloutier frustration at Stingrays’ opening defeat

SYLVAIN Cloutier admitted his Hull Stingrays were far from their best after going down 3-2 at Dundee Stars in their Elite League opener.
By Phil Harrison
Published 17th Sep 2012, 11:31 BST

The Stingrays had gone into the long trip up to Tayside on the back of an impressive 7-5 Challenge Cup win over Cardiff Devils but, according to Cloutier, never came close to repeating that kind of performance.

“We did not play our best game,“ said Cloutier. “We had not been on the ice for two days and we were a bit sluggish but there are no excuses. You have to find ways to win.

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“We had done a decent job in our first two games and we are a better team than what we showed in Dundee.

“We created a lot of chances but did not capitalise on them - we hit the post a few times and missed an empty net. We kept battling and we came close at the end.”

Stingrays outshot their hosts 35-26, but it was Jeff Hutchins’s team who struck first in the fourth minute, Sami Ryhanen profiting from a five-on-three power play after Cloutier and defenceman Tomas Valecko had been sent to the penalty box.

That was how it stayed for the reminder of the first period until the impressive Cale Tanaka levelled at 23.47 for the visitors. But any joy the Stingrays felt was short-lived after Pat Bowen restored the Stars’ lead on the powerplay at 25.11.

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Stingrays continued to create chances, but slipped further behind at 44.20 when Hull forward Jack Watkins scored what proved to be the game-winning goal against his former club.

Valecko cut the deficit to one again at 51.53, but that was as close Hull came as they began their Gardiner Conference campaign in disappointing fashion.

They will have a chance to pick up their first league points this weekend when they host Valecko’s former club Edinburgh Capitals at Hull Arena, before playing the return fixture in Murrayfield the following evening. It’s hoped import defenceman Shane Lovdahl will have arrived by that time having encountered delays with his visa.

RESULTS

Sunday - Elite League: Cardiff Devils 3 Braehead Clan 4 (SO), Coventry Blaze 3 Sheffield Steelers 4 (OT), Dundee Stars 3 Hull Stingrays 2, Nottingham Panthers 3 Belfast Giants 2 (SO).

Challenge Cup, Group A: Edinburgh Capitals 2 Fife Flyers 4.

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Saturday - Elite League: Nottingham Panthers 3 Belfast Giants 5, Sheffield Steelers 7 Coventry Blaze 5,

Elite League/Challenge Cup Group A: Fife Flyers 5 Braehead Clan 1.

Challenge Cup, Group A: Dundee Stars 3 Edinburgh Capitals 2.