The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze kept their perfect start to the Elite League regular season campaign alive with a convincing 0-6 road victory against Glasgow Clan in Scotland on Wednesday.
Glasgow made a surprise move in their lineup by giving the starting nod to 22-year-old British goalie Lucas Brine, replacing the more experienced Canadian, Landon Bow. Additionally, teammates Nick Prkusic and Cole Ully were left out of the Clan roster.
Despite the lengthy bus journey, Coventry started the game on the front foot, immediately testing Brine, who responded with a couple of sharp saves early on.
The Blaze almost capitalised on a powerplay opportunity following an interference penalty against Simon Després, but Glasgow managed to hold firm.
Both teams were well-disciplined defensively, limiting any clear-cut chances. As a result, the first period ended without too many major scoring opportunities, and the teams headed into the break with the score locked at 0-0.
Glasgow were awarded their first powerplay early in the second period, but the best chance fell to Coventry. Grayson Constable broke away, only for Brine to come up with a huge save to deny him. Moments later Brine produced another stunning stop, this time thwarting Archie Hazeldine. The Blaze defenseman could only look to the heavens, wondering what it would take to beat the inspired Brit in goal.
Play was temporarily halted just before the midway point due to a medical emergency in the stands. Once the game resumed, Coventry immediately applied pressure with back-to-back powerplay opportunities. Their persistence finally paid off with 8.14 left in the second period. Captain Kim Tallberg capitalised on a rebound after a well-worked passing play to break the deadlock.
With momentum on their side, the Blaze continued to dominate, and their efforts were rewarded again at 38.29. Constable forced Matt Stief into a costly mistake, setting up a two-on-one break. Constable then slid the puck across to Mike Regush, who finished clinically to double Coventry’s lead.
Coventry extended their lead to 0-3 just 23 seconds into the third period when Regush, picking up his third point of the night, set up Chase Gresock to finish off another two-on-one break.
With 16.16 left on the clock, defenceman Alexander Kuqali further deflated the sold-out Glasgow Arena, blasting in a shorthanded fourth goal.
Moments later, Coventry nearly added a fifth, but Brine came up big once again, stopping a penalty shot from Alessio Luciani to keep his team hanging on.
A goal of the year contender made it 0-5 to Blaze at 45.23 when Zach Heintz scored his second in as many games on the powerplay following a stunningly quick passing routine.
A frustrated Mitchell Heard and Deven Sideroff were ejected from the game with eight minutes remaining, instigating fights with Jackson Cressey and Hazeldine respectively.
The Clan’s discipline continued to unravel in the final stages, with Mike Pelech also thrown out before they conceded a second short-handed goal with Luciani completing the scoring 0-6 at 58.07.
Photo credit: Al Goold
