Play-off dream over for Stingrays

by UK American Sports Fans

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Excel Hull Stingrays saw their hopes of reaching the Elite League play-off Final Four weekend come to an end after a 6-3 defeat to Cardiff Devils in South Wales. Trailing 2-1 from the first leg of their quarter-final tie, Stingrays found themselves three goals down on aggregate inside 11 minutes with Brad Voth (powerplay) and Tylor Michel (delayed penalty goal) scoring within 102 seconds.

But Stingrays got themselves back in the contest with a delayed penalty goal of their own courtesy of leading goalscorer Jereme Tendler, who has already re-signed for next season. However, a Ryan Finnerty powerplay marker with 79 seconds of the first period left restored Devils’ three-goal cushion on aggregate. Craig Weller extended Devils’ lead and two goals inside 17 seconds from Scott Matzka and Jon Pelle saw the Welsh side surge further ahead.

Stingrays did, though, manage to win the final period thanks to goals from Konstantin Kalmikov and Andrew Coburn. Although Stingrays’ season is now over, they will look back on the last six months as a huge success. Player-coach Sylvain Cloutier said: “Obviously we are disappointed but no-one quit and we kept plugging away. I am really proud of the guys.

“This was the toughest draw we could have had. Cardiff have been the best team in the league this year. Credit to Gerad Adams, his team played very well. But over the two games we had our chances and Stevie Lyle made some great saves at crucial times. All season we have packed it in against Cardiff and have been pushed around but this weekend we have battled hard and played physical and they were a bit surprised by that. We knew it was going to be tough but we gave it our best shot.”

Devils continued their remarkable record of having reached the semi-final of the play-offs in every season in the Elite League and will now meet defending champions Belfast Giants next Saturday. Cloutier added: “For a team to do that is a great accomplishment. You have to give the team and coaching staff a lot of credit.”