Hewitt hurts Stingrays once again

JASON HEWITT made it four goals in two games against Hull Stingrays as Sheffield Steelers completed a second successive triumph over their Yorkshire rivals in four days.

But the 3-0 victory didn't take Ben Simon's team any closer to leaders Cardiff Devils after they came from 4-1 down at home to Nottingham Panthers to win 6-5 in overtime.

It means the Steelers remain three points adrift of Cardiff as they go into Friday night's live TV game against the Panthers.

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Hewitt broke the deadlock for Steelers at Ice Sheffield in the 14th minute but a determined Stingrays side - looking to avenge Sunday night's 4-3 defeat in Hull - made the home side wait until the 47th minute before Hewitt doubled his tally.

As Hull pulled their goalie in search of a reply, Tom Squires scored an empty net marker in the final minute to make it 3-0.

"We were missing a few guys but we managed to hold them to 1-0 for two periods," said Hull player-coach Sylvain Cloutier, who was without Lee Mitchell (knee), Lee Esders (shoulder) and Drew Bannister (groin).

"We had two lines and rotated a couple of the young kids. We worked hard and did the best we could.

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"We are creating chances, I would be worried if we weren't, but we just need some bounces to start going our way. But you need to create your own bounces and luck."

The result leaves Hull eight points behind sixth-placed Braehead Clan with four games in hand but, with a double header coming up this weekend against bottom club Edinburgh Capitals, will fancy their chances of closing the gap on their Scottish rivals.

Steelers face a tough three games in three days starting with Friday night's live TV clash with the Nottingham Panthers.

They then face a home and away double against te Coventry Blaze before heading to Hull Arena on Wednesday night to face the Stingrays for a third time in 11 days.