The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze produced a scintillating third-period performance to defeat reigning Grand Slam Champions, Sheffield Steelers by a score line of 4-2 at Skydome Arena on Sunday.
After a rare Saturday off, Blaze began sluggishly and were punished early when former forward Marco Vallerand scored from a Robert Dowd pass at 1.56. Coventry responded well, equalising through Associate Captain Brandon Alderson, whose powerplay one-timer beat Sheffield’s goalie Matthew Greenfield at 6.08.
As the first period progressed, the physicality increased, with Mitchell Balmas, Dowd, and Jackson Cressey all receiving roughing penalties at 13.27.
Three minutes later, Alderson was penalised for boarding, followed by a checking-to-the-head penalty on Blaze defenceman Mike Kennedy, giving the Steelers an extended 5-on-3 powerplay. However, they failed to capitalise, sending the teams to the locker rooms level after 20 minutes.
The second period was end-to-end, with both goalies, Mat Robson for Blaze and Greenfield for the Steelers, kept busy. Coventry had the better chances, with Alessio Luciani hitting the post and Nick Seitz missing a 2-on-0 opportunity. However, Sheffield struck next when defenceman Kevin Tansey fired past Robson with 1.23 remaining in the middle period.
The game’s turning point came just 40 seconds later when Sheffield’s Daniel Ciampini was ejected for a cross-check to the head of Blaze defenceman Jakob Stridsberg. Adding to Sheffield’s woes, Brandon Whistle was assessed a minor penalty at the buzzer to end the second period.
The Blaze took full advantage of this. Just one second after Whistle’s penalty expired, Man of the match Stridsberg scored to tie the game at 42.01.
Still on the powerplay, Chase Gresock found the game-winner for Blaze at 43.16.
Sheffield pressed for an equaliser but were caught on a two-on-one break, with Blaze captain Kim Tallberg feeding Zach Heintz for Coventry’s fourth goal and Heintz’s first professional goal at 56.25.
This result means Coventry have started their Elite League campaign with two wins from two and next head to Scotland to face the Glasgow Clan on Wednesday (7.30 p.m)
Photo credit: Scott Wiggins
