Cardiff Devils @ Hull Stingrays - 16th March

14th Mar 2013 | Posted by Simon Rafferty

Saturday see’s the Devils make the trip to the UK’s most versatile venue to take on the Hull Stingrays. This will be the sixth meeting between the two teams with the series currently standing at 4 losses and only 1 win for the Devils. This is a must win match for the Stingrays who are driving hard to win their conference and need two wins this weekend to assure clinching the conference.

We took a look at the Stingrays squad at the start of the season which you can check out here http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/news/devils-vs-stingrays-challenge-cup/

The Stingrays were in action twice last weekend in more crucial encounter for both league and conference position, Hull maintained their recent form as they made it four straight wins and at the same time inflict an eighth straight road loss on the Stars.

The win for the Humberside team sees them off the bottom of the league for the first time since 15th December and at the same time send their opponents to the bottom of the standings, their worst position this season.

It was also a huge two points in the race for Conference title as Hull go four points clear of the Stars.

The Hull side got off to the perfect start as Dominic Osman put them in front with only 46 seconds on the clock.

However, the visitors were back on level terms at 6.36 with a strike from Janis Ozolins. Stars player/coach Jeff Hutchins then put his team in front with a goal at 13.17 to give them a one goal lead at the end of the first session.
Stingrays got themselves level with the only goal of the second period at 29.24 as Matt Davies netted on the powerplay.

Dundee were ahead once again as Billy Bagron found the net at 47.29. After this the home side turned on the style as they hit three in less than three minutes. Leading by example player/coach Sylvain Cloutier tied the game up at 51.47. Then at 53.37 Davies with his second gave them a one goal lead and Jason Silverthorn got the insurance goal at 54.26 to give the Stingrays the huge two points.

Final Score Hull Stingrays 5 – 3  Dundee Stars

Sunday saw the Stingrays face the current league leaders at home in Nottingham. Panthers got off to the start wanted with a goal by Kelsey Wilson after only 19 seconds but the impressive Ben Bowns and his Stingrays teammates held firm after that, with no more scoring in the opening period.

Period two saw lots of Panthers pressure but again outstanding goaltending by Bowns aided by some determined home ‘D’ work kept out the normally free-flowing Panthers offence. However at 6.59 of the third period panthers went 2-0 ahead and could relax when David-Alexandre Beauregard found a way past the GB goaltender.

David Clarke added a third for Corey Neilson’s men with 46 seconds remaining but Craig Kowalski’s hopes of a seventh shutout of the season were dashed with only 4 seconds remaining as Jeff Smith scored with the final shot of the game.

Final Score Hull Stingrays 1 – 3  Nottingham Panthers

Scoring for the Stigrays is led by Jereme Tendler who’s netted 40 goals this season 7 of which have been against the Devils backed up by Jason Silverthorn on 20 goals, 2 on the Devils nets and Matt Davies on 7 goals.

In nets the Rays have Ben Bowns on a 90% save percentage with a Goals against average of 3.37

The Injury hit Devils have struggled to score on Hull with season with only Chris Blight having scored more than once on them with 2 goals still in action. 

We will be running the “ridiculously childish and disgustingly biased” Match Night Live service for this game, expect name calling and one eyed bias in epic proportions, at the usual location of http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/mnl if you'd like to help out by texting updates (we’d be happy to hear from you) or you can chip in with some comments on the night by contacting us at matchnightlive@gmail.com