Hinam double helps Storm up into fourth

Photo: Mark Ferris

Manchester Storm moved into fourth in the Elite League standings with a 3-1 win over Coventry Blaze in a tight game at Storm Shelter, seen by 1,752 fans.

Evan Weninger and Taran Kozun shut the door on the 19 first period shots, but the goals would start to come in period two.

Tyler Hinam scored his 24th goal of the season with a deflection on Ryan Harrison's shot from the point to put Storm ahead 1:30 into the second. Coventry levelled at 26:19 when Kim Tallberg tipped Alexander Kuqali's shot in front of Weninger, and the middle period ended all square.

Neither side was able to take the lead in the opening 15 minutes of the third, but it was the Storm who eventually got the go-ahead goal. Mitchell Martan picked up his own rebound, went behind the net and threw the puck goal-wards, with Stephen Johnson knocking it over the line to put the hosts ahead with only 4:23 to play. Hinam then scored on the empty net at 58:27 to confirm the Storm's win.