Stingrays eye second straight maximum haul

Sylvain Cloutier's side remain bottom of the table but have been buoyed by three wins in their last four games – the first of which was a stirring 5-4 triumph over Panthers on home ice two weeks ago.

The previous two meetings in the East Midlands between the two sides have been tight affairs, with Panthers edging one in overtime and the other only after a shootout.

Cloutier believes that with a little more self-belief - something gained during an impressive performance in a 5-2 home ice defeat to league leaders Coventry Blaze - his players could heap further misery onto Corey Neilson's side in front of their own fans.

"I have told the guys they have to believe they can go into Nottingham and win," said Cloutier.

"We have just outplayed the top team in the league. We hit a bump in the road but we need to get up, go to Nottingham and play our game.

"They are a very skilled team but they get frustrated and they don't like to play against us. We have to out-work them and out-hussle them - that's how this team will win hockey games."

Stingrays return to home ice on Sunday night for what will be only their second league meeting of the season against Newcastle Vipers.

Despite out-shooting their hosts by almost two-to-one, Hull lost 2-1 at the Metro Radio Arena in early November following a late goal by Mike Berry and Cloutier believes his side should make sure they secure two points that should have been theirs in the first meeting.

He added: "We should have had the two points that night.

"Newcastle are a fast team, but if we outwork them and play physical against them then we will get those two points."