Giants could slip up if Stingrays click

SYLVAIN CLOUTIER hopes to make Hull Arena an unpleasant place for visiting teams beginning with the arrival of Elite League leaders Belfast Giants on Sunday night (6pm).
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Nov 2010, 22:41 BST
Updated 20th Nov 2010, 08:16 BST

Despite going down 5-3 when Belfast made their first visit last month, Hull had chances to take something from the game, a situation they were able to rectify when they gained a point in a 5-4 overtime loss in Northern Ireland the following week.

The Giants go into this weekend having won 12 of their last 14 games.

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"I felt we deserved a point at our place against them," said Hull player-coach Cloutier.

"We played really well for a point at their place and we'll be ready to go again on Sunday.

"Hopefully, we'll have the Arena packed and full of noise, making it very difficult for them."

To hear Sylvain Cloutier, new Stingrays defenceman Drew Bannister and Sheffield Steelers' in-form forward Rob Globke on the latest edition of our HockeyTalk podcast go HERE

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Hull will hope to go into tomorrow's match on the back of a win on Saturday night at Newcastle Vipers where forward Jason Silverthorn will be return after missing six games with concussion.

Defenceman Kriss Grundmanis - released by Hull on Monday - has been snapped up by EPL strugglers Sheffield Steeldogs.

The 21-year-old Latvian, who went out in style in his final game last Sunday with a 'Gordie Howe hat-trick' in the 5-1 defeat of Coventry, should make his debut for Matt Darlow's side in Satturday's visit to Peterborough Phantoms.

His home debut will follow on Sunday with the visit of Milton Keynes Lightning to Ice Sheffield.

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Sheffield Steelers have just the one game to occupy them this weekend when they visit bottom club Dundee Stars.

They go into the game in fine form following Wednesday's 7-0 win over Hull and should have little trouble recording a fourth straight win over the Scottish side.

Goaltender Ervins Mustukovs - who registered his sixth shutout at Ice Sheffield on Wednesday night - said Steelers' seven-game winning streak was chiefly down to the players' willingness to work clsely as a team.

"We've got a good run going together and Ben (Simon) keeps telling us to take each game at a time and that's what is working for us.

"This team has some very good players but none of them are playing as individuals, we are winning games because we continue to play as a unit."

Related topics:Sheffield SteelersHull