COACH Sylvain Cloutier labelled Excel Hull Stingrays' 9-0 thrashing against Belfast as "a night to forget".

Stingrays leaked three goals each period to stumble to their heaviest defeat of the season as Giants continued their chase for the Elite League title.

They were eventually out-shot 53-24 on a dismal night at Dundonald.

It leaves Stingrays nine points behind Saturday's opponents Newcastle with only seven games left to make up the deficit.

But after this effort, it appears unlikely Stingrays will now avoid the wooden spoon.

Cloutier said: "Some guys showed up to work and some guys didn't.

"You would think with eight games left the team would have more character and want to win a game.

"But Belfast showed why they are a side chasing first place.

"They battled hard for 60 minutes.

"I thought we did well for the first seven minutes and that was it. It was a night to forget."

Stingrays were missing only Curtis Huppe, but did have Sheffield's James Archer in the line-up, so could hardly make the excuse they were under-strength.

Pat Bateman scored twice inside the first 10 minutes to put Belfast 2-0 up, before Jeff Szwez made it 3-0 on the powerplay.

Evan Cheverie and Pierre-Luc Faubert added powerplay goals before Michael Jacobsen scored for 6-0 at the second break.

Sean McMorrow and Craig Peacock added to Belfast's tally before Bateman finished what he'd started with Belfast's ninth and final goal.