Hull out to diffuse Blaze and progress

IF Hull Stingrays learnt anything from their 5-2 Elite League defeat on Sunday, it is that they must find a way to shut down the top line of Coventry Blaze, writes Phil Harrison.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Nov 2013, 17:27 BST
BIG THREAT: Coventry's Ashley Tait, seen above right in action for former club Sheffield Steelers, is one third of a formidable top line for the West Midlands team. Picture: Dean Woolley.BIG THREAT: Coventry's Ashley Tait, seen above right in action for former club Sheffield Steelers, is one third of a formidable top line for the West Midlands team. Picture: Dean Woolley.
BIG THREAT: Coventry's Ashley Tait, seen above right in action for former club Sheffield Steelers, is one third of a formidable top line for the West Midlands team. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Ashley Tait, Adam Henrich and Ryan Ginand produced 12 of Blaze’s 15 points in their victory over Stingrays at the Skydome Arena, a game which was effectively over by the end of the first period after the home side raced into a 4-0 lead.

Tonight sees the two teams meet again, this time in Hull in a Challenge Cup game which will effectively determine who will be the fourth and last team to progress to the quarter-finals from Group B.

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If Hull win in regulation they will reach the last eight at Coventry’s expense.

“The Henrich/Tait/Ginand line is one of the best in the league and we need to shut them down or we will be in big trouble,” admitted Stingrays player-coach Sylvain Cloutier.

“We know what the game means. We are in the toughest group against four teams from the other conference. We managed to get through last season and if we were to progress again it would be an even bigger achievement because all of those teams have upgraded this year.”

Coventry coach Matt Soderstrom has told his players to expect a totally different game to the one they experienced at home on Sunday.

“Hull are a difficult team to play in their rink, they play well at home and play hard,” he said. “It’s a huge game for both teams.”

Related topics:HullCoventry