COACH Sylvain Cloutier admits Rapid Solicitors Hull Stingrays still face an uphill battle to qualify for the Elite League play-offs, despite beating Braehead Clan 3-2 at Hull Arena.
Stingrays are now four points adrift of the play-off places with only eight games left, thanks to Saturday's 4-2 defeat in Fife.
Cloutier, who was hopeful of gaining a full-house of four points, said: "It was a great win against the Clan.
"We got ahead in the game and we dug deep to hang on for the points.
"We're still alive, but we know it's going to be difficult to get into the top eight now as we really needed all four points from this weekend, not just the two."
Jason Silverthorn (shorthanded) and Dominic Osman put Stingrays in the driving seat with two strikes inside the first 10 minutes, only to see Ash Goldie pull a goal back on the powerplay before Jereme Tendler restored the two-goal cushion before the first break.
A goalless second period gave way to a tight final session and the scoreline remained 3-1 until inside the last four minutes when Jordan Krestanovich netted on the powerplay.
Despite pulling their keeper, Clan could not find an equaliser and Stingrays hung on for two priceless points, although out-shot 45-28.
On Saturday in Fife Bobby Chaumont put Flyers ahead on the powerplay at 10.17 but Shane Lovdahl levelled, also on the powerplay, at 17.37.
Another powerplay marker from Kris Hogg put Flyers back in front but once again Rapid Solicitors Stingrays hit back, with Tendler's 38th goal of the season making it 2-2 with 63 seconds of the middle period left.
But Hogg's second on 41.28 and Zac Carriveau's effort on 47.20 sealed victory.
Cloutier said: "I thought we played a really good game in Fife and deserved more.
"But Fife buried their chances, and we didn't.
"It was disappointing not to take anything from the game."
