Cloutier looking for positive response

SYLVAIN CLOUTIER wants to erase the nightmare of his Hull Stingrays side's performance in Belfast Giants from his mind as quickly as possible as he looks to build momentum for the end-of-season play-offs.

Hull were hammered 9-0 in Northern Ireland by the Elite League title-chasers on Thursday evening, increasing the likelihood they will end the regular season in last place.

The only team they can realistcally catch is Newcastle Vipers, who are nine points clear with Hull having only seven games remaining. Crucially three of those games are against Newcastle, the first of which is in Whitley Bay on Saturday night.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Other results need to go their way in order for Stingrays to secure a seventh-place finish but player-coach Cloutier – whose side welcome Nottingham Panthers to Hull Arena on Sunday (6.00) – believes it can be done.

"We have to believe we can catch Newcastle, otherwise there's no point in playing," he said.

"We know we need help from other teams in order to catch them but, if nothing else, we want to make sure we can build momentum now coming into the play-offs.

"Thursday in Belfast was bad, no doubt about it, but we need to move on as quickly as possible and come out firing against Newcastle."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Assistant-player coach Curtis Huppe missed the defeat to Belfast with a lower body problem, but may be back for the Newcastle clash, although British forward Matty Davies is ruled out with a hernia injury.