Ice Hockey: Capitals unable to make it a double against Hull side

Published on Monday 5 October 2009 09:55

DOUG Christiansen remained up-beat despite Edinburgh Capitals failing to nail a confidence-boosting road double at Hull Stingrays and slipping to the bottom of the eight-strong Elite League table.

The giant American watched from the bench as Capitals lost 4-1 only two weeks after thrashing Stingrays 9-2 on Humberside in their opening league game.

Edinburgh led 1-0 before Hull rifled in four straight goals and the Scots now have three points from the same number of games. They are a point behind Hull who have played three more games.

They are also two points adrift of defending Elite League champions Sheffield Steelers, who are sixth.

Part of the reason for the defeat was the form of Hull netminder Tommy Sandahl who faced 33 shots compared to the 26 of Capitals' No.1 Cody Rudkowski.

Also, Capitals failed to punish Hull during four power play chances. Hull had three.

Christiansen, Capitals' director of hockey, said: "It was not a 4-1 game. They scored an empty net goal and we played well in the opening two periods.

"After the second period we could have been three or four goals up but they took their chances and we didn't. It is frustrating that we missed chances but their goaltender played exceptionally well to keep them in the game."

Looking back, Christiansen said: "It was 9-2 on our last visit but it was only 3-2 at one point in the second period. We scored several goals late on but it is frustrating and disappointing that we didn't take anything from this game. Simply, we didn't execute."

Three goals in the final period, two of them inside the first minute, saw Hull move off the bottom of the table. After a goalless first period, Capitals took the lead midway through the game. The home side drew level shortly after going behind and then netted three times in the third period. The win saw the Humberside team snap a run of six straight defeats and there was very little between the teams in the opening period. After the first session the teams were deadlocked.

Capitals opened the scoring at 30min 25sec as Darius Pliskauskas netted. The home side were back on level terms at 33min 03sec with a goal from Lee Esders. Hull then got off to the perfect start in the third period despite being shorthanded, Pavel Gomenyuk putting them in front 30 seconds after the re-start. Hull increased their lead just over a minute later as player-coach Sylvain Cloutier found the net. Stephen Burns put the icing on the cake with an empty net goal with two seconds left.

Owen Fussey again showed that he will be a threat in the league and Fife-born Scott McKenzie, on a month-long loan from Dundee CCS Stars, came in for praise from Christiansen, who shattered his left knee in the first period of the previous game at Hull and faces a long period on the sidelines.

Christiansen added: "We were missing Mark Paterson and that didn't help us.

"We don't have a lot of depth and he is a guy who gobbles up minutes for us.

"Everybody played okay but I didn't think we had that many stars. It was a close game and they came out on top. We need to win close games like that."

CHRISTIANSEN UPBEAT DESPITE 20-20 LOSS

EDINBURGH Capitals slipped out of the inaugural 20-20 tournament following a 1-0 defeat by in-form Newcastle Vipers at Sheffield.

But Doug Christiansen, Capitals' director of hockey, saw real positives from the tournament. Matus Petricko fired the winner in the final minute after former Capitals netminder Michal Robinson had put up the shutters.

The Scots saw both Scott McKenzie and new import Mark Smith hit the post.

Christiansen said: "It was a fun event and there were around 3,500 fans who enjoyed the experience.

"Our guys also enjoyed the experience and the event has certainly given this organisation something to work on. We came here thinking we had a chance of winning and we battled hard."