Giants take advantage in Challenge Cup semis

The Hull Stingrays have it all to do to advance to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup after a 3-1 loss to Belfast Giants in the first leg in Hull Arena.

Belfast’s goalie Stephen Murphy pulled off two fantastic first-period saves to deny Dominic Osman before Andrew Fournier put the Giants ahead late in the opening period.

Tom Squires then hit the bar for Stingrays just before the interval and the Stingray’s goaltender Ben Bowns prevented Daymen Rycroft from doubling Giants’ lead after the break.

However the two markers inside the final three minutes of the second period from Sam Roberts and Noah Clarke put Giants in control.

Hull’s Tom Squires pulled a goal back for Stingrays in the third period but they could not get a second as they fell to a sixth successive defeat.

They now head to Belfast on December 29 for the return leg bidding to overturn a two-goal deficit.

Hull’s player-coach Sylvain Cloutier said: “We had a great first period and had our chances. You have to take them against a team like Belfast. If you capitalize on them then it is a different game.

“They had a bit of luck with a couple of goals and we did not play that bad a game. But you cannot afford to miss those kind of chances.

“It is an uphill task now and we need our key guys to bear down. We have to focus and be ready to go for the second leg in Belfast.

“We need to turn our form around but we have to keep plugging away and stay positive. The only way we will get out of this is to stick together.”

So the Giants regain their winning ways readying themselves for the Coventry Blazes visit on Friday Night in the Odyssey Arena.