Flames extend lead at top in high-scoring game

Photo: Scott Wiggins

Three Guildford goals in less than two first-period minutes proved to make the difference for the Flames in Coventry on Sunday night, extending their lead at the top of the Viaplay Elite League.

It was a crazy opening period at the Skydome with four goals inside the opening seven minutes of the first. Nathan Ripley scored for the second successive night to put the Blaze ahead after 99 seconds with a shot that trickled through Eamon McAdam, but three Flames goals in under two minutes turned things around. Brett Ferguson banked a puck in off Paavo Hölsä from behind the goal line to tie the game at 4:29, with Turner Ripplinger taking advantage of a 3-on-2 rush to score at 4:51. 

Daniel Tedesco ad Ferguson combined on a tic-tac-toe play to make it 3-1 at 6:14 after which Blaze Head Coach Danny Steward called his timeout.

That reset for the Blaze stemmed the flow of goals at both ends of the ice but the all-important next goal went the way of the Flames with just over five minutes left in period two. While Marly Quince sat a high-sticking minor, a Jordan Klimek one-timer was saved by Hölsä but only as far as Sam Marklund who tidied up the rebound to make it 4-1 at 34:26.

Tanner Lishchynsky pulled one back for the hosts with 15:04 to play, and when Radek Veselý scored at 52:58 the Blaze were only one behind. Mike Crocock looked to have made things comfortable for the Flames with their fifth at 56:59, but there were to be a nervy last 73 seconds after Ross Venus pulled it back to 4-5.

Holding on for the win, it was a great night for the Flames who extended their lead at the top thanks to beating Coventry, and Sheffield also losing.