Hull close in on the Clan

The result was further proof of the good form shown by Sylvain Cloutier's side in recent weeks, having now lost only one game in the last six.

"It was a big win and a big match," said Cloutier. "But I still don't think we played our best hockey game.

"In the second period they were all over us and if it wasn't for (netminder Christian) Boucher it could have been a different story.

"But there have been other games we have deserved to win and didn't so it goes around. We found a way to win, which was key. In the third we kept our composure and kept plugging away. We know we can play better than that."

Hull, who lost 6-2 in Braehead in their first league match of the season before gaining revenge with a 5-4 victory on home ice over the Scottish side last month, got off to the perfect start when Canadian forward Andrew Coburn slotted the puck homewith the help of a deflection on the powerplay at 6.46 for his eighth goal of the season.

That's how it stayed until two minutes into the second period when the prolific Jereme Tendler grabbed his 22nd goal of the campaign with his shorthanded strike so far.

Just over three minutes later, Konstantin Kalmikov marked his return from injury when he made the most of good work by player-coach Cloutier and captain Kurtis Dulle to fire home and establish a three-goal cushion.

But Braehead – having won only two games in 14 going into Wednesday night's clash – gave themselves hope when Dominic Noel struck at 28.40 to reduce the deficit.

The home side became even more nervous when Ryan Campbell struck on the powerplay while Cloutier was serving a minor penalty to make it a one-goal game.

But the home fans' concerns were allayed when Jason Silverthorn finished off another move involving Cloutier and Dulle to register his ninth goal of the season, enabling Hull to move to within a point of the Clan with four games in hand on their Scottish rivals.