Hull seek to gain tangible benefit as they tackle title hopefuls Belfast

The Elite League's bottom club follow-up tonight's game with title hopefuls Belfast Giants at Hull Arena (5.30) with a short trip to South Yorkshire to take on defending league and play-off champions Sheffield Steelers tomorrow (6.00).

Hull enter the weekend 10 points adrift of next-to-bottom Steelers having lost their last four games but Cloutier believes his players have produced good form in recent weeks without necessarily having the points to show for it.

"I feel we have played some good hockey despite not picking up any wins, so we will be looking to put that right this weekend," said Cloutier.

Of the five games between Hull and Belfast this season, Cloutier's side have won only one – a 3-2 shoot-out victory on home ice at the end of November – but the 35-year-old Canadian centre feels his side have what it takes to throw Belfast's title hopes into disarray.

"Belfast are a top team and are chasing the title so they can't afford to lose too many games if they want to catch Coventry and Nottingham," he added.

"We have played some good games against them this year. They have a lot of firepower but they will have been travelling all day so we must jump all over them early on."

Steelers have won all three games against Hull this season and welcome their Yorkshire rivals to Sheffield Arena 24 hours after playing Nottingham Panthers at the National Ice Centre.

Panthers have enjoyed a 100 per cent record against Dave Matsos's side this season, but Steelers take a two-game winning streak into the match having defeated Edinburgh Capitals twice on home ice in the last fortnight, the latest being a nervous 6-4 victory on Thursday.

Back-up goaltender Dan Green is expected to start both games for Steelers due to No 1 netminder Andrew Verner being ruled out through injury.