HULL, UK – Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier cut a forlorn figure after Excel Hull Stingrays were beaten 5-1 by Cardiff Devils in their Elite League clash at the Cardiff Bay Arena on Sunday night.
Max Birbraer and Matt Towe handed Devils a 2-0 lead but James Sanford, scoring his first for the club, got Stingrays back in the game within a minute in the final period. But three goals in as many minutes from Matt Miller (powerplay), Birbraer and British forward Phil Hill (powerplay) ensured victory for the south Wales side.
Cloutier said shortly after the game:
“There is not much you can say. In the first period we played the perfect period even though we were down a goal but in the second we got away from the game plan. We got a goal and were back in the game but all of a sudden it was breakdown after breakdown.
“We can’t hang our heads, it’s tough right now but we need to get back to work this week. We have to get some of our key guys going or it’s going to be a long season. It’s getting depressing.”
This defeat leaves Hull rooted to the bottom of the Elite league by 4 points, behind local rivals Sheffield Steelers, while Cardiff are in 5th 4 points behind league leaders Coventry Blaze.
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