Stars win back and forth game in Coventry

Photo: Scott Wiggins

24 hours after getting a point in Belfast, Coventry Blaze were beaten 5–4 by Dundee Stars at the Skydome in a high-scoring battle that swung repeatedly before the visitors held on for the win.

Dundee opened the scoring on the powerplay when Matt Berry finished a loose puck in close. Coventry replied at 11:53 through Jere Vertanen, who found the top corner after sustained Blaze pressure. Dundee regained the lead on another powerplay when Ben Almquist forced the puck over the line, but Coventry tied it again late in the period as Vertanen struck for his second during a two-man advantage.

“We are too inconsistent at the moment,” Vertanen said of the Blaze performance. “We’re having ups and downs in every game and need to work on that so we can turn these games into wins. We need to make sure we keep our level high. We’re capable of doing this and we’ve shown that, but it’s about being more consistent.”

Chances came at both ends in the second period, but it was Dundee who edged ahead again when Jonathan McBean scored from a scramble near the crease.

The third period opened with Matthew Gleason tying the game just 64 seconds in, only for Otto Nieminen to restore Dundee’s lead moments later. Berry added his second of the night at 49:28 to put the Stars two clear. Gleason pulled one back with 7:45 to go, but Coventry could not find a further equaliser and Dundee held firm for the road win.

Berry noted Dundee’s ability to answer back was key: “I think it went pretty good for us. Our powerplay went well and got us a couple of goals in the first period. After that we played a pretty smart game. It was back and forth, and it seemed like every time we gave one up we battled back. We battled hard and closed it out at the end.”