Cloutier: It's crunch time for Stingrays
ICE HOCKEY
COACH Sylvain Cloutier says his side must now treat every match as an end-of-season play-off game.
The Rapid Solicitors Hull Stingrays sit bottom of the Elite League table, four points adrift of the play-off places.
They have won just twice in 14 games, but have lost three in either overtime or penalty shots.
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Stingrays have 22 matches left to rescue their season, starting this weekend with a run of five against teams from their own Gardiner Conference.
"Fingers crossed we can get all four points at Braehead and Edinburgh this weekend," said Cloutier.
"It's crunch time, every game is a play-off game now.
"I don't know whether I'd go as far as saying the next five matches are make or break as all the teams have to play each other.
"It's more awkward if the games go to overtime so everyone keeps picking up at least a point."
Stingrays have not helped their cause by losing seven league and cup penalty-shot shoot-outs this season.
Each of those games has yielded a point for extending the encounters beyond normal time.
However, the extra point gained for each shoot-out win would have put Stingrays in the play-off positions.
Stingrays' six penalty-shot takers have had 25 attempts between them, and scored only five times.
Cloutier said: "Our games against Edinburgh and Coventry last weekend both went to shoot-outs and we lost each time.
"That's now seven in a row. That's a lot of points to throw away.
"We need to bear down and finish off those games when we get the chance."
STINGRAYS have confirmed the signing of forward Danny Wood, 23, from Sheffield Steeldogs.
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