Cloutier planning to end Cardiff blank

The Canadian player-coach has yet to taste victory in Cardiff Bay since taking charge of Hull in the summer of 2009.

The two sides have met twice in the Challenge Cup so far this season, with Cardiff winning 4-2 on home ice before the two sides shared the points in Hull last month.

Hull make the long trip having ended a seven-game winless streak with a 3-2 home win over Fife Flyers on Sunday night, while Cardiff go into the encounter fresh from a two wins over Coventry Blaze.

Influential defenceman Dmitry Rodin is missing for Hull with a knee injury, meaning forward Frantisek Bakrlik returns.

“It is a difficult place to play and they always come out flying at the start,” said Cloutier. “We need to get through that first period okay, but we need to match their intensity and physical game.

“They’ve lost some key players from last season, but they are still a good side who can hurt you.”

With regard to Rodin’s absence, it’s expected to delay Cloutier’s decision on which import forward he will jettison from his line-up.

An announcement was expected some time last month before injuries to forward Jason Silverthorn and defenceman Josh Mizerek meant Cloutier needed all his remaining imports dressed.

The return of defenceman Kurtis Dulle - in response to the team’s poor start to the season - took Hull’s import tally up to 11 and, with only 10 being allowed to ice at any one time, Hull are not in a position financially to afford the cost involved in keeping a ‘spare’ import meaning the club’s owners could still decide to pull the plug on the unlucky player at any time.

Rodin could be out for three weeks, although Cloutier said they were hoping to get the Estonian international in for a scan earlier than is currently scheduled.

“Dmitry has been a our leader back there and been the strongest defenceman we’ve had so having him out of our line up is a big blow,” added Cloutier.

“But we hope to get him back sooner rather than later.”