Flyers win late in Coventry

Photo: Scott Wiggins

Fife Flyers got their first league win of 2023/24, and first at the Skydome since before the pandemic, with a late winner on Sunday night in Coventry.

Coventry wasted absolutely no time in getting out of the blocks and were ahead after just 21 seconds through Kobe Roth. It was a lead they held for just over two minutes until an unforced turnover in their own ended handed the puck to the Flyers, and although Taran Kozun bailed the Blaze out once, Johan Eriksson set up Troy Lajeunesse to tie the game at 2:53. In what was a back and forth opening 20 minutes, the Blaze went back ahead 13:44 - James Shearer tapped home into the empty net after an excellent play from Roth to pick our the perfect time for the pass across Shane Owen's crease.

Blaze went 3-1 ahead 1:54 into period two, but a pair of goals at the other end brought the Flyers back level very quickly - Ben Hawerchuck struck at 22:07, followed by Johna Eriksson 52 seconds later to tie things up. Ian McNulty's throw on net from behind the goal line took a terrible bounce of Owen's stick and into the net at 37:25 to put the hosts back ahead, but Eriksson responded against at 39:01 to make it 4-4 after 40 minutes.

Things looked to be heading into overtime until a loose shot in the direction of Kozun's net from Troy Lajeuneese somehow found its way into the net to give the Flyers their first lead of the night with 1:56 to play. Kyle Osterberg scored on the empty net with 58 seconds left to make Fife's win secure.