Weekend ends on a low note for Stingrays

There are still enough games remaining for Sylvain Cloutier’s team to overhaul their rivals for a top-eight finish, but they need to put a consistent run together, particularly against their Gardiner Conference rivals.

The weekend started well for the East Yorkshire club when they overcame Fife Flyers 5-2 at home. But any ground gained was soon lost when they were beaten 5-1 in Fife last night.

It leaves the Stingrays bottom of the overall Elite League table, six points adrift of Fife, who occupy the eighth and final play-off spot. But Hull do have two games in hand and know that 10 of their remaining 18 league matches are against conference rivals.

Edinburgh are ninth, three points ahead of Hull who they visit on Wednesday night, when Cloutier’s players will be keen to avenge the 9-5 defeat they suffered at Murrayfield last week.

Dominic Osman was on target in Fife for Hull, but goals from Todd Dutiaume, Derek Keller, Jason Pitton, Bobby Chaumont and Kris Hogg gave the Flyers a deserved win.

On Saturday, Hull took a third-minute lead through Tom Squires, with Jason Silverthorn adding a second at 8.45.

Fife halved the deficit with Chaumont’s powerplay strike at 23.28, before Cloutier stepped up to restore the two-goal advantage at 27.52.

Kris Hogg’s powerplay goal reduced the deficit to one goal again five minutes later but, once more, Cloutier responded with his second of the night at 38.45.

With chances at a premium in the third, Osman struck at 49.18 with a shorthanded goal to guarantee two vital points.