Stingrays double up to close in on the Clan

A 4-2 victory over fellow strugglers Newcastle Vipers on Saturday allowed Sylvain Cloutier's side to put some welcome distance between themselves and the bottom three.

But things got even better for the perennial strugglers on Sunday night when a Jason Silverthorn overtime strike sealed a stunning comeback victory over leaders Belfast Giants.

With sixth-placed Braehead Clan suffering two defeats, Hull were able to close the gap on the Scottish newcomers to just four points, with three games in hand.

It looked like Hull - who confirmed on Sunday that former NHL defenceman Drew Bannister would arrive in the UK on Tuesday - would have to settle for a second defeat on home ice to Belfast when they entered the third period two goals down.

But top scorer Jereme Tendler halved the deficit at 49.20 before Cloutier struck the decisive blow with only 24 seconds left on the clock to send the game into overtime. Silverthorn then marked his return from a concussion layoff in style when he struck the winner in the final minute.

At Whitley Bay on Saturday, Newcastle were 2-0 ahead by the halfway point before the impressive Tendler made it a one-goal game at 38.46. The visitors then overpowered their hosts with third period strikes from Ryan Lake, Andrew Coburn and a second for Tendler.

A delighted Silverthorn said Hull had shown their true character in twice coming from two goals down to secure victory.

"You always keep believing," he said.

"We started to push late in the third (against Belfast) and you are hoping for something to break for you. Bouch (goaltender Christian Boucher) played unbelievable to keep us in it so it was another team effort.

"We always believe and you always have to believe, no matter what situation you are in. We found a way to pull it out and that is what we need to do."

Sheffield Steelers took advantage of Belfast's defeat at Hull when they came away from a long road trip to bottom club Dundee Stars with a 5-3 victory.

The visitors edged a five-goal opening period through strikes from Rob Dowd, Rob Globke and player-coach Ben Simon. Jeff Legue made it 4-2 at 28.38 and although the hosts made it a one-goal game again, Jason Hewitt's 55th-minute strike guaranteed two points for the Steelers.

Steelers remain in third, three points behind second-placed Nottingham with two games in hand and six points behind Belfast with four games in hand.

A true test of Steelers' title credentials will present itself this weekend when they face a double header against Doug Christiansen's team in Belfast on Friday and Saturday night.

The one previous meeting between the two sides this season saw Belfast win 6-5 at Sheffield.

In the EPL, Sheffield Steeldogs remain in the bottom two after taking only one point from their two-game weekend.

The point was gained in a 3-2 loss after a penalty shoot-out at Peterborough Phantoms.

Matt Darlow's returned to action at Ice Sheffield on Sunday night but were defeated 5-2 by 2009-10 regular season champions Milton Keynes Lightning.