The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze began their 2025/26 Elite League season with a 3–0 defeat against the Cardiff Devils at Vindico Arena on Saturday night.
An early goal from returning Devils captain Joey Martin proved to be the difference, before two late empty-net markers sealed the win for the home side.
Blaze travelled to Cardiff with a full-strength lineup, while the Devils were without Cédric Lacroix but welcomed back Martin from injury. Mat Robson started in goal for Coventry, opposite Ben Bowns for the Devils.
Martin opened the scoring at 3.46, reacting quickest to a rebound to put the home side ahead, assisted by Ryan Barrow and Evan Mosey.
Blaze thought they had levelled the game just before the eight-minute mark, but the referee had blown the play dead before the puck crossed the line.
Both sides had powerplay opportunities in the first period, but neither were able to convert. The middle frame was evenly contested, with Blaze enjoying several good spells of pressure but unable to find a way past Bowns, as Martin’s opener remained the only goal through forty minutes.
Cardiff looked to extend their lead in the third, but Robson stood tall to deny Brett Perlini on a breakaway, before Kohen Olischefski tipped a Brandon Estes shot off the bar as the Devils pressed for a second.
Blaze were forced to kill a late penalty inside the final five minutes, before pulling Robson for the extra skater in search of an equaliser. However, a loose pass allowed Riley Brandt to find the empty net at 58.53 to make it 2–0.
With time running out, Blaze again went with the extra attacker, but Perlini struck from distance at 59.26 to confirm a 3–0 final scoreline.
Photo credit: James Assinder
