Cloutier looking to hurt Steelers’ bid

Hull snapped a five-game losing streak at the weekend by recording two wins over the Elite League’s bottom club Edinburgh Capitals.

Following a 3-2 win after a shoot-out at home to Coventry Blaze on Saturday night and a 4-0 defeat for title rivals Cardiff Devils at third-placed Belfast, the Steelers returned to the top of the league table for the first time since late September.

But Cloutier believes his side have the potential on home ice to hurt Ben Simon’s team, enjoying a 7-2 win in Hull last November before being edged out in a seven-goal thriller there last week.

Sheffield then won 3-0 in South Yorkshire last Wednesday.

“We’ve shown at our place on the last two occasions that we can give Sheffield a run for their money,” said Cloutier.

“There will be added pressure on them now because they are at the top of the table and we’ll have to see what happens.

“The last game against Sheffield here was a really close game and we deserved something from that. We need a bit luck but you have to create your own luck. We will have to stick to the game-plan and try to steal two points.”

A win for Hull would take them to within six points of sixth-placed Braehead Clan with three games in hand on their Scottish rivals.