Blaze leapfrog Flames into second

Photo: John Uwins

Coventry Blaze leapfrogged Guildford Flames into second in the Elite League standings with a win by the odd goal in seven at the Spectrum in an excellent game between two in-form teams in the top three.

"We just wanted to play good defense, we know Guildford are a fast, offensive team. They have a lot of skill and we knew that if we played a solid game we'd be able to generate out own chances and we cashed in on those tonight" said Blaze defenseman Alexander Kuqali post-game.

An explosive start from the Blaze saw them almost score on the very first shift of the game – a stranded Eamon McAdam only looking on as Alessio Luciani batted a floating puck over the bar with the net empty.

Guildford took the lead 3:50 into period one with Josh Waller's pass into the slot being one-timed past Mat Robson by Jake Jacome. The Flames' lead lasted exactly nine seconds with Luciani putting home Nick Seitz’s throw to the net to level the game. An exciting opening period ended without further scoring but good chances at both ends.

"There's no magic speech with us," continued Kuqali. "We just try to take the game in five-minute segments and take every shift if it comes. We talk about being present a lot, and in a game like this if you do that and chip away and get the result you want."

McAdam needed to be at his best to keep the Blaze out in the early stages of period two, but they did go ahead at 24:06 thanks to Luciani’s second of the game that deflected and looped into the net. Brynley Capps came close to scoring his first professional goal but couldn’t poke the puck past McAdam as the Blaze threatened again.

A bad turnover allowed Grayson Constable to skate through and slot past McAdam to put the Blaze 3-1 ahead at 36:32. Facing the possibility of heading into the break two behind, the Flames were given a lifeline when Lewis Hook got on the end of a loose puck in the slot to beat Robson with 89 seconds remaining in the period.

Ethan Strang almost tied the game on the very next play but Robson’s out-stretched skate stopped a low shot hitting the back of his net.

Coventry moved back two ahead with a rocket of a slapshot from Brandon Alderson 8:35 into period three while Waller sat for a holding-stick infraction. With 3:08 to play, Paul Dixon pulled McAdam for the extra skater, and 20 seconds later Mike Kennedy was penalised for playing after losing his helmet to put the Flames on a 6-on-4 advantage. They made their pressure count with a debut goal for Sam Jones with 23 seconds remaining, but time was on the Blaze's side and they held on for the important road win.