Steelers have enough to edge out frustrated Stingrays

ON TARGET: Jereme Tendler scored two goals for Hull Stingrays at Ice Sheffield on Wednesday night but it couldn't prevent a 4-3 Challenge Cup defeat to Sheffield Steelers. Picture: Arthur Foster.

Jereme Tendler put Stingrays in front at 2.25 before Jonathan Phillips (15.22) and Maxime Lacroix (26.14) edged the home side ahead. Tendler’s second – and fifth in four games this season – levelled the scores at 35.12 only for Stefan Meyer to put the home side ahead once more on the powerplay 135 seconds later.

Stingrays needed just 43 seconds of the final period to restore parity as former Steeler Derek Campbell converted on the powerplay, but Aaron Nell’s powerplay marker at 44.11 proved to be the winner.

“We competed with them but we came up short and that is frustrating,” said Hull player-coach Cloutier.

“When you get so close against one of the big teams you want to take advantage and you need to find a way to win.

“We had some chances to tie it at 4-4, I had a shot which hit the bar, so we can take a lot of positives from the game.

“I cannot fault the guys, we now need to keep our heads up, regroup and get focused for Saturday night.”

The result means Hull have lost all three of their Group B games so far, with the Steelers now sitting second in the table behind leaders Nottingham Panthers after registering their second win in the competition.

Hull have an opportunity to pick up their first win in the competition when they travel to Coventry Blaze on Sunday, 24 hours after playing host to Edinburgh Capitals in the league.

The Steelers will face Nottingham for a second time at the National Ice Centre on Saturday, before taking on Braehead Clan in the league at home on Sunday, a fixture which will mark the first return to the Motorpoint Arena for former Steelers coach Ryan Finnerty, who was sacked by owner Tony Smith in April before being chosen to succeed Paul Gardner in Glasgow.