Hull Seahawks urged to embrace attack mode in order to realise NIHL National play-off ambitions
JORDAN STALLARD believes Hull Seahawks have given themselves a timely reminder of what can help them salvage a frustrating NIHL National campaign.
Last weekend’s double-header against Milton Keynes Lightning may have seen the points split equally between the NIHL National rivals, but the Seahawks emerged convinced they merited more for their efforts.
Having lost 6-4 in Milton Keynes on Saturday, Hull – who on Friday added 19-year-old forward Richard Hartmann to their roster for the rest of the season – responded in blistering style when back on home ice, establishing a 7-0 lead with just over two minutes of the second period remaining.
But the Lightning hit back hard in the third period, reducing the deficit to two goals with just under seven minutes to play.
Thankfully, Hull held on with Stallard convinced that the way they played in the previous five periods against Tim Wallace’s team is the blueprint for how they should play going forward.
It is the post-season where Hull’s hopes now lie in terms of silverware, with head coach Matty Davies determined to make the Final Four Weekend in Coventry for the first-ever time, something which would make up for what has been a disappointing campaign so far.
“We’ve just got to worry about ourselves,” said Stallard, who scored two goals and two assists across both nights against the Lightning.
“We can’t treat any team differently. We’ve just got to play the way we did last weekend - other than that last period (on Sunday). If we play like that, we’re going to find success.
“That last period, we maybe got too complacent, too comfortable with the lead.
“But I think we play our best when we’re attacking, when we’re getting pucks deep and making it hard on other teams’ defencemen.”
As one of the Seahawks’ four imports, Stallard will be expected to play a key role between now and the end of the season. He is keen to make up for lost time somewhat, given he spent a month on the sidelines through injury in November-December.
“It wasn’t easy being out,” added Stallard, who has 14 goals and 14 assists in 25 appearances this season.. “It was out for a month or so but I’m feeling better now. It took me a couple of weeks to get back in the groove. Now, hopefully, I can just keep it going.
“Points for myself haven’t really been coming that easy but I’m just trying to play a good, two-way game and hopefully they will now.”
The Seahawks have finished fourth in the regular season standings in the past two seasons and go into this weekend still very much in the mix for repeating that feat, sitting just four points off Telford Tigers.
They will look to build on Sunday’s win over Milton Keynes when they head to Basingstoke Bison on Saturday before heading home to prepare for the visit of leaders Swindon Wildcats.
Hartmann has played 25 games for Peterborough this season, scoring one goal and five assists but asked to be released from his contract with the club last week.
After spending the week in Hull Davies decided to bring him on board.
"He’s sopmebody that I’ve been looking at for a couple of years now,” said Davies.
"So I got him in this week to see how he fitted in and got on with everybody and he’s had a good week.
"With Dec Jones out for the rest of the season, that leaves a big hole. Dec brings a lot to our team and we’re going to miss him a lot.
"So I needed somebody to play in that role and Rich will come in and definitely plug that gap for us.”