Stingrays can still make play-offs, insists defiant Hull coach Cloutier

Hull, who yesterday released misfiring Latvian forward Janis Ozolins, play host to fellow strugglers Edinburgh Capitals tonight knowing a win would take them to within one point of their visitors, who sit immediately above them in the overall league standings.

The team fixed in Cloutier’s sights, however, are Fife Flyers, who currently occupy eighth spot, six points ahead of Hull but having played two games more.

Of Hull’s remaining 18 games, 10 are against Gardiner Conference opposition meaning it is still possible for them to make the post-season as conference winners.

Failing that, they will need to finish in the top eight of the overall table, something player-coach Cloutier is confident of doing.

“I’m confident in this group of players and believe we can catch Fife,” said Cloutier.

“We’ve had the lowest budget in all my time here, but we knew that from the start. All we wanted to do on the ice was make sure we were competitive and I believe we’ve done that.

“We’re not going to finish bottom of this league – we are going to make the play-offs.”

Cloutier is still looking to strengthen his roster and said he had come close to landing a couple of European-based forwards in recent days.

Sheffield Steelers take on Dundee Stars at Ice Sheffield needing to overhaul a two-goal deficit in their Challenge Cup quarter-final.

Trailing 4-2 from the first leg, Steelers’ forward Jason Hewitt acknowledged his teams’ need to convert their chances on home ice.

“We need to capitalise on our chances,” said Hewitt.