Hull look to prove point after being stung by Steelers' comments

HULL STINGRAYS' player-coach Sylvain Cloutier is determined to prove last month's victory at Sheffield Steelers was no fluke.

A 5-2 victory for Hull at Sheffield Arena marked a new low for the hosts, while completing a four-point weekend haul for Cloutier's team.

Afterwards, Steelers coach Dave Matsos admitted he was embarassed by his team's performance and the result, something which Cloutier took exception to, fuelling his desire to prove that lightning can strike twice when Steelers visit Hull Arena tomorrow night.

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"It would be nice to beat Sheffield at home," said Cloutier.

"We know we can play with them. They disrespected us in the papers after we beat them and that's something we haven't forgot and we will remember that.

"They said they were embarrassed they lost to us – well there won't be much to say about Sunday and how we will be motivated.

"There's no animosity or anything like that, I just think that sometimes you have to give other teams credit for the way they have played against you."

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Cloutier welcomes back forward Adam Knight for tonight's visit to Newcastle Vipers, who they trail by 11 points but who they hope to overhaul before the end of the season and, in doing so, lift themselves off the bottom of the Elite League table.

"We've two games in hand on Newcastle," added Cloutier. "And we still have to play them four times before the end of the regular season.

"But we can only really concentrate on what we do and see what happens from there."

Steelers take on Belfast Giants at Sheffield Arena tonight looking to gain swift revenge after letting a three-goal lead slip to lose 5-4 in the first part of a double-header with the Northern Irish outfit last night.

A win would have taken Steelers to within two points of fifth-placed Edinburgh Capitals, who they defeated 3-2 on Wednesday.