Blaze pull away from playoff chasers

Photo: Derek Black

Coventry Blaze picked up a crucial win in the race for the final playoff place with a 5-2 victory over Dundee Stars, extending their advantage over the Stars to 11 points.

Dundee opened the scoring at 13:54 when Craig Garrigan finished in close after Mat Robson made the initial save on a Morten Jürgens effort.

The Blaze responded late in the first period. At 18:02, Adam Robbins reacted quickest in the crease to convert a rebound after Grant Mismash’s shot slipped past Emil Kruse.

Coventry took control in the second period. Former Star Elijiah Barriga put the Blaze ahead at 36:10, finishing a backdoor feed from Jere Vertanen, before William Boysen made it 3-1 on the powerplay at 38:25 with a slapshot from the point.

Dundee pulled one back early in the third at 41:02 when Matt Boudens buried a loose puck after Robson’s initial stop.

Barriga restored the two-goal cushion at 49:47, beating Kruse five-hole on a breakaway for his second of the night. Adam Robbins then wrapped up the scoring at 53:13, finishing from close range after strong work by Mismash to make it 5-2.