VIDEO: Stingrays stay on the up – but Steelers see title hopes dip

Regardless of the result, it has been a wonderful start to 2014 for Sylvain Cloutier’s team, who created a new club record when they extended their winning streak to six games on Saturday night with a come-from-behind 4-2 win over Dundee Stars.

After missing out on the play-offs last year, it is clear the East Yorkshire club are determined to avoid the same fate this time around and remain well-placed on two fronts for reaching the post-season.

Matt Towe grabbed Clan’s opening goal at 17.24 in Glasgow last night, with Shane Lust doubling the lead at 38.21.

Joel Champagne extended Clan’s advantage at 46.53, while netminder Kyle Jones made 22 saves as Stingrays were shut-out for the first time on the road and only the second occasion this season, as the home side secured their first win over Hull in six meetings this season.

On Saturday, Hull fell behind at 3.35 to a powerplay marker from Nikita Kashirsky before league leading scorer Guillaume Doucet fired home on a 5-on-3 powerplay just over three minutes later.

Nico Sacchetti restored the Stars’ lead at 37.11 but the third period belonged to Hull, Cloutier levelling at 51.55 before, two minutes later, Omar Pacha blasted high past Dan Bakala in the Dundee goal to make it 3-2, Pavel Gomeniuk adding an empty-net strike in the final minute.

To watch post-match interviews with Hull’s Matty Davies click HERE

Sunday night’s defeat to Braehead was only Stingrays’ fourth regulation loss in 17 games - with their record now 11-4-2 - but Cloutier insisted afterwards that he was “proud” of his team’s recent performances.

“We were flat and didn’t have anything out there,” he said. “We had a few chances in the second period and hit a couple of posts but it was not to be.

“It was disappointing, but I have nothing but praise for what the guys have achieved over the last month and a half. I am so proud of this group of guys.

Cloutier also saluted the Stingrays supporters following their victory over Dundee.

“The support we had on Saturday was awesome,” he added. “It was an unbelievable atmosphere in the arena and when we tied it up at 2-2 I thought the roof was going to come off.

“We have great fans and we are on a good run of form at home and we are going to need them getting behind us again on Saturday against Coventry.”

To watch highlights of Hull Stingrays 4-2 win over Dundee click HERE

Sheffield Steelers’ Elite League title hopes were dealt a serious blow on Saturday with a 3-1 defeat at home to runaway leaders Belfast Giants, who stretched their lead at the top to 17 points with a 7-2 win at Edinburgh Capitals last night.

Steelers – themselves 19 points behind Belfast, albeit with three games in hand – may be forced soon to concede the title race, but they ended the weekend on a high when they confirmed their qualification for the Challenge Cup semi-finals with a 6-5 win at Dundee, giving them an aggregate win of 10-5.

They will now meet Nottingham Panthers in the semi-finals.

To watch highlights of Sheffield Steelers’ 3-1 defeat at home to Belfast Giants click the PLAY button at the top of this page.

On an emotional night in Sheffield on Saturday, spectators showed their affection for former defenceman Randy Dagenais, whose 16-month-old daughter Eveleyne tragically died from pneumonia on Friday.

Before the match, the 5,000-strong crowd stood in silence and then later stood and cheered for the entire 12th minute - the number Dagenais wore on his back during his three years with the Steelers - even at the moment Belfast scored their first goal through Daryl Lloyd.

The Giants extended their lead in the middle session when Kevin Saurette pounced at 24.19 before Evan Cheverie made it 3-0 at 34.45.

Steelers’ Rob Sirianni gave the home side faint hope of a comeback when tapped home from close range following a Chad Langlais pass at 42.23, but it was as close as the Steelers were able to get to Paul Adey’s side.

“I thought we were outstanding in the third period (against Belfast) and if we could have got it to 3-2 the whole roof might have blown off,” said Christiansen after the Belfast defeat.

“But you have to give Belfast credit – they came here and they played 60 minutes. It took us a while to get going and we found ourselves down 1-0 after the first period and so we start to press.

“But as a result of pressing there are two turnovers and they end up in the back of our net which is very disappointing.”

In an open game on Tayside, Steelers effectively put the two-legged tie with Dundee to bed when they added two goals in the opening 10 minutes with strikes from Maxime Lacroix and Robert Dowd – extending the aggregate lead to 6-0. Further Steelers goals followed from Drew Fata, Tim Spencer, Siranni and Nate DiCasmirro.

“It was important we won that hockey game,” added Christiansen.

“For us to score six goals shows a great team performance and great attitude that ensured we accomplished our goals.”