Glowa looks to finish in high spirits

After following up Saturday's overtime win at Sheffield Steelers with a 6-3 triumph over Newcastle Vipers, Hull recorded their best-ever points return for a season since joining the British game's top-flight four years ago.

Now captain Glowa wants his side to give themselves every chance of overhauling seventh-placed Vipers - currently lying three points ahead - by picking up wins at home this weekend against Cardiff Devils and Steelers.

Stingrays are one of the form sides going into the end-of-season play-offs, taking 22 points in their last 20 games.

Glowa, who posted two goals and two assists in the win over Vipers, admitted that while avoiding the regular season wooden spoon was preferable, it's what happens the following weekend in the first round of the play-offs that will define Hull's season.

"The most important thing is we are winning games down the stretch heading into the play-offs," said Glowa.

"It's going to be tough to go above Newcastle but we want to go into the play-offs on a high.

"We are starting to score goals and play defence, we are putting it all together and the big thing is everyone is contributing - all three lines are picking up points."

Against Newcastle, Pavel Gomenyuk gave Stingrays an early lead before a Matic Kralj brace saw Vipers edge ahead. A superb short-handed marker from Lee Mitchell tied the scores only for Jerraime Domish to put the visitors back in front.

Captain Jeff Glowa restored parity again before another short-handed goal, this time from Stephen Burns, turned the game in Stingrays' favour with Jason Silverthorn extending their lead. Glowa added an empty-net strike with 20 seconds remaining.

After goals from player-coach Sylvain Cloutier and his assistant Curtis Huppe, Lee Mitchell netted the game-winning goal in overtime at Sheffield Arena on Saturday.

Cloutier is delighted with the effort from his players and rues a poor start to the season blighted by injury for his side remaining favourites to finish bottom of the regular season table.

"If you take away the first three months we are probably one of the better teams in the Elite League right now," said Cloutier.

"That's the frustrating part. We went through a lot but these guys could have just buried their heads and collected their pay cheques, they didn't do that and they are now getting their reward."