Stingrays end losing streak in shoot-out

Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier had returned with his team from South Wales on Saturday night on the back of a 4-2 defeat to Cardiff Devils in the Challenge Cup, a result which had extended their losing streak to six games.

Sunday night’s visit in the league from Fife Flyers to the Hull Arena was expected to provide the Stingrays with a comfortable victory, given that the Elite League newcomers had lost their previous four games while conceding 26 goals.

But twice Hull got their noses in front only for the Scottish visitors to draw level, eventually forcing a nerve-jangling penalty shoot-out.

Jereme Tendler fired Hull into an eighth-minute lead on the powerplay and that was how it stayed until 32.01 when Steve Gunn levelled for a determined Fife.

Dmitry Rodin restored the home side’s advantage early in the third period before the Flyers’ player-coach Todd Dutiaume again restored parity.

And once overtime had also failed to separate the two side, the shoot-out arrived with Tendler and Fife’s Danny Stewart the only successful penalty takers until defenceman Rodin stepped up to score the sudden death winner.

“We got the two points and at the end of the day that is all that matters,” said a relieved Cloutier afterwards.

“We have three points out of four from our last two home games and that is what we want.

“You have to give Fife credit, they played us hard, they played well and they kept everything simple.

“But we have to play a lot better, we won’t win many games playing like that.”

Hull are next in action when they take on Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Steelers next Saturday (7pm) before welcoming Nottingham Panthers to Hull Arena 24 hours later (6pm).