Stingrays left dazzled by Stars but still control own destiny

Jordan Mayer, Hscored the game-winning goal for Hull at Fife Flyers.

On Saturday, Omar Pacha’s team picked up a crucial two points with a 3-1 win at Fife Flyers, but followed it up with a 6-1 defeat at Dundee 24 hours later.

With Edinburgh Capitals losing 5-0 to a rejuvenated Coventry Blaze on Saturday it means Hull are four points clear of their Scottish rivals in the race for one of three play-off spots that remain.

The two sides meet in East Yorkshire on Tuesday with Hull no doubt aware that a home win would see them put one foot in the play-offs.

On Tayside on Sunday, Hull came up against a spirited Dundee side, no doubt determined to get over the 12-0 mauling they received at Cardiff Devils the previous night.

They certainly did that, so much so that they were 3-0 ahead in the first 12 minutes, James Isaccs’s fourth-minute opener being added to twice by John Dolan.

Eric Galbraith pulled a goal back for Hull at 18.50, but second-period markers from Igor Gongalsky and Kyle Gibbons extended Stars’ advantage. Gongalsky completed a comfortable win with a sixth goal 28 seconds into the final session.

“The team has been Jekyll and Hyde this weekend,” said player-coach Pacha, making his 100th appearance for the club.

“One night we play the system to a tee and the other night we don’t show up for the first 12 minutes.

“We also lost Turcs (Yan Turcotte) in the first period so we only had four ‘D’ and eight forwards. We went down a couple of goals early and we had to chase the game and that is something you cannot do when you are playing short.

“But give Dundee credit, they did a great job. They sat back and waited for their chances and we played into their hands. We did not play our system and that is what happens.

“It is frustrating but now is not the time to get down on ourselves. We have to pick ourselves up and get ready for a massive game against Edinburgh on Tuesday.”

In Fife, Hull went ahead through Carl Lauzon’s short-handed strike at 25.33, although Scott Fleming levelled for the Flyers before the end of the second.

But Jordan Mayer put Stingrays ahead again at 47.12, Cory Tanaka rounding off a perfect road win with an empty net strike with 23 seconds remaining.

“It was a massive win in Fife and a great team performance - it was a great road game.”

“It was one of our best defensive games of the year. Tom Ralph had a really good game for us, Sam Towner was unbelievable and Jamie Chilcott had one of his best games. We showed a lot of trust in them and they did a great job.”