Inconsistency strikes Stingrays again

HULL STINGRAYS once again highlighted their knack for inconsistency with a mixed weekend in the Elite League.

A stunning 3-1 triumph at 'parent' club Coventry Blaze on Saturday night was followed by a second successive defeat on the road at second-bottom Dundee Stars.

But two points from the weekend were enough to keep Sylvain Cloutier's side in touch with sixth-placed Braehead Clan, who visit Hull Arena on Wednesday night with the Stingrays just three points behind them with four games in hand.

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Saturday night's triumph at the Skydome Arena was the second in a row for Hull, following their 5-1 Challenge Cup triumph there last November, a result which effectively ended Coventry's hopes of progression with the Stingrays having gone into the game having been already eliminated from the competition.

Coupled with Sunday night's 3-2 defeat at Sheffield Steelers, it will prove to be a weekend to forget for Paul Thompson's side.

With last season's top scorer Konstantin Kalmikov injured and Lee Mitchell (knee) ruled out until January, Hull travelled to 'headquarters' light on firepower but it did not stop them taking the lead in the 13th minute through Jason Silverthorn.

Dan Carlson levelled for the home side four minutes into the second period but Hull proved a good match for their more illustrious hosts, regaining the lead at 47.57 through captain Kurtis Dulle.

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And, as Coventry pulled goalie Brett Jaeger to provide an extra attacker, Andrew Coburn found the empty net to secure another unexpected two points for the visitors and a seventh league defeat of the season for Paul Thompson's side.

"Give the guys credit, they battled hard and had to kill a lot of penalties," said former Blaze captain Cloutier afterwards.

"We have had a very tough schedule. You are always looking to steal some points from the big teams but to get six from the last three games is a great effort and it's all credit to the guys, they are the ones going out there and producing."

On Sunday, keen to avoid a similar nightmare start to the one that engulfed them on their last visit to Dundee Ice Arena when they found themselves three goals down in five minutes, Hull got off a flier after just 86 seconds when Lee Esders pounced for his first goal of the season.

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But a steadily improving Dundee side showed their increased potential when goals from Jay Latulippe, Brent Hughes and Peter Cartwright saw them enjoy a 3-1 lead at the first interval.

A goalless second period followed before Mark Nebus gave the home side a three-goal cushion in the 50th minute. Coburn netted his second of the weekend for Hull 21 seconds later, but that was close as the visitors got ahead of their long trip home.

""It was a disappointing result but give Dundee credit, they played well and deserved to win," said Cloutier who expects to have Kalmikov back for Wednesday night.

"They were the better team in the first period and they out-worked us. We did not play like we have in the last few weeks but it was just one of those games.

"It is a bump in the road and we have to regroup for Wednesday."

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