Flames into cup semis with comfortable aggregate win

Photo: Scott Wiggins

Guildford Flames moved onto the Viaplay Challenge Cup Semi-Finals with a 9-3 aggregate victory over Coventry Blaze in their Quarter-Final second leg on Thursday night, although the damage was mostly done with the Flames' 5-0 first leg aggregate win last weekend.

Coventry knew they had to go at the Flames, and did take the lead through Jack Billings at 14:04 with the only goal of the opening period.

Logan Fredericks fired home a shot from the top of the faceoff circle to tie things up at 28:16, and just 23 seconds later Ian McNulty beat Paavo Hölsä from the same side, just slightly closer, to put the Flames ahead on the night. A fine solo effort from Payton Frantti eventually set up Nathan Ripley for a rebound finish in the slot to bring things level at 32:59, before the Flames regained the lead at the end of the period. With Coventry heading on a powerplay and just five seconds left in the middle frame, Blaze Head Coach Danny Stewart rolled the dice and pulled Hölsä to see what he could force with the extra skater. It backfired - Mike Crocock found the empty net from the slot of his own zone to put the Flames 3-2 up. 

Marly Quince tied the score on the night with 45:57 played, but a late PEter Crinella shot, again from the faceoff circle, won it 4-3 for the Flames.