Cloutier still upbeat as Hull suffer losses

The East Yorkshire club extended their losing streak in the Elite League to four games when they went down to Nottingham Panthers 3-2 at home on Saturday. And their hopes of making the last four of the Challenge Cup were effectively killed off with a 4-2 reverse at Coventry Blaze last night.

The weekend was rounded off perfectly for the Panthers when they came out on top in their first meeting with arch-rivals Sheffield Steelers, winning 4-2 in the Challenge Cup.

“We just ran out of gas (against Coventry),” said Cloutier, whose side have enjoyed just one win in 15 games in all competitions so far this season.

“We put a lot of effort into the Nottingham game on Saturday – we went all out against them, and we looked a little tired in Coventry.

“We have had a tough start but it is frustrating because we haven’t been playing bad hockey. We just need to get some bounces and start finding ways to win games.”

The signs looked ominous for Hull in front of their own fans on Saturday after Nottingham took a two-goal lead into the first period break thanks to strikes from Jordan Fox and David Clarke.

But a far closer second period saw the home side get their reward when, with Frantisek Bakrlik in the penalty box on a hooking call, Dominic Osman pounced on a loose clearance to break clear and slot the puck high above Craig Kowalski’s left shoulder.

Marc Levers restored Nottingham’s lead but a power-play goal converted by Matty Davies set up a tense final 10 minutes, with Stingrays unfortunate not to at least earn themselves a point.

On Sunday, Hull found themselves 4-1 down early in the third period with Jereme Tendler‘s 24th-minute strike the only answer to goals from Luke Fulghum, Dustin Wood, Shea Guthrie and Owen Fussey. Jack Watkins got a late consolation goal.

The weekend started well for the Steelers when they returned from a long trip to Dundee Stars with a 4-0 win thanks to goals from player-coach Ryan Finnerty (2), Ashley Tait and Mark Thomas.

But their Challenge Cup hopes were dealt a blow at Sheffield Arena 24 hours later when the Panthers romped into a 4-0 lead courtesy of goals from Corey Neilson, Guillaume Lepine, Robert Lachowicz and Clarke.

There were late consolation efforts from Finnerty and Tom Squires, but it was too little, too late, leaving coach Ryan Finnerty to demand a swift improvement ahead of next Saturday’s Cup rematch at the National Ice Centre.

“Everyone here isn’t frightened of the job ahead, we will get it right,” said Finnerty. “I’m not afraid of making changes but I’ll only do that if i think it’s what we need and if it will make us a better team. We lost a game of hockey, I fully agree and accept that we lost it in an unacceptable manner, but we lost one hockey game.

“This will be a tough week for everyone, maybe my toughest so far as a head coach.

“We let everyone down. We had a huge crowd who came to see us perform and we didn’t. We were out-worked and that is what hurts the most.”

IN the English Premier League, Sheffield Steeldogs recovered from a 4-1 defeat at Slough Jets on Saturday with a 2-1 win at Bracknell Bees 24 hours later.

Player-coach Andre Payette was missing from the home match against Bracknell having been given a match penalty in Slough, leaving his side with just two imports.

After losing key defenceman Pavel Gomeniuk for the game on a tripping call, the Steeldogs faced an even tougher uphuill battle.

But two second-period goals from the prolific Janis Ozolins were enough to secure another two points which keeps the South Yorkshire club level on points with three other teams at the top of the table.

Payette said: “It was a tough road loss on Saturday but a great win the following day.

“The players really knuckled down and played their hearts out - it was one of the best games I’ve been part of with the Steeldogs.”

To watch highlights of Hull v Nottingham go HERE

To watch highlights of Sheffield Steelers v Nottingham go HERE

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Twitter: @philarra