Blaze take shootout win, Clan pick up first league point
Photo: Al Goold
Coventry Blaze gave up a 4-1 lead but took two points home from Glasgow after a 6-5 win over the Clan in front of 3,194 fans at Braehead Arena.
It was a textbook road period for the Blaze, who despite being marginally outshot through the opening 20 minutes led by two after first. There was a touch of fortune about Coventry's opener with Tyler Kirkup's shot hitting the post and then bouncing in off Clan goalie Jake Kielly with only 33 seconds played. Clan had some half chances at the other end but the Blaze did well at keeping Clan to the outside, and then capitalised on a Ryan Harrison penalty with Kim Tallberg firing home after a perfect set-up pass from Danny Kristo at 16:14.
Period two was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams. Mike Pelech got Clan back in the game with a powerplay goal at 22:44, but the hosts weren't ready for the restart and got caught up by Tyler Kirkup just 12 seconds later. Brady Norrish's wrist shot from the top of the slot then put the Blaze 4-1 up at 31:13. Clan's comeback was fuelled by Nate Kallen, who scored at 34:30 and 37:28 to get his side back to within one, and then with 61 seconds left in the period Pelech reached furthest for a loose puck around Nolan Kent and poked it over the line to tie the game.
5:03 into period three, Kielly stopped David Clements' shot but no one picked up Kobe Roth to come through and fire home the rebound, putting the Blaze back into the lead. Kielly came up with a couple of big saves to keep Clan just one behind before Darien Craighead one-timed a Gary Haden pass from behind the goal line to tie things up again with 8:05 left. The Blaze had a goal washed out in the closing stages as the net was out of position before the puck had crossed the line.
Overtime didn't produce any goals despite a couple of good chances for the home side, and so the extra point was decided in a shootout. Neither side managed a score in the opening five rounds, but Danny Kristo did find the net in Round 6. New Clan signing Matt Berry couldn't hit a debut goal and Coventry took the win.
