Hull Stingrays win at Newcastle Vipers

Tendler is now third top scorer in the Elite League

Hull Stingrays returned to winning ways in the Elite League with a 7-4 victory at Newcastle Vipers.

The visitors were behind at the end of the first period but a second hat-trick of the season from Canadian Jereme Tendler helped make the points secure.

"It was a big win for us. They came out hard, we made some mistakes and they capitalised," Hull player-coach Sylvain Cloutier told BBC Humberside.

"But we stuck to the game plan and played it simple."

Goals from Dale Mahovsky (powerplay), Jamie Carroll and Adam Reynolds put Vipers 3-1 ahead inside 13 minutes after player-coach Sylvain Cloutier had hauled Stingrays level.

Tendler, though, cut the deficit to one in the powerplay 45 seconds later before Jason Silverthorn tied the game five minutes into the second period.

Mike Prpich put Vipers back in front only for a short-handed marker from Drew Bannister, his first goal for the club, restored parity again.

Hull won the final period 3-0 with two Tendler goals completing his hat-trick, and taking his tally to 25 for the season, before an empty-net goal from Silverthorn with 85 seconds left wrapped up the points.

Stingrays, who were without the injured Finnish forward Matti Uusivirta, suffered another blow when Lee Esders was taken to hospital with concussion, which he sustained in the second period.

The two sides meet again on Tuesday night - this time at the Hull Arena with Stingrays holding a 3-1 record over the Vipers this season in the Elite League.