The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze put their first two points on the Elite League board with a 2–1 bounce back victory over the Glasgow Clan at Skydome Arena on Sunday.
Coventry continued to be without Danish forward William Boysen, while Mat Robson got the nod in net. Brit Lucas Brine started for Glasgow with Sami Aittokallio rested after making 49 saves in a shootout victory over Cardiff Devils on Saturday.
The Blaze opened the scoring early when the in-form Grayson Constable struck short-handed at 6.14, assisted by Connor Russell.
Despite having to kill two penalties in the opening period, Robson and the Blaze penalty kill stood firm.
Coventry again hit the net early in the second period, Grant Mismash continuing his rich vein of scoring form, assisted by David Clements and Alessio Luciani, for 0-2 at 21.37.
Both teams had opportunities on the man advantage in the middle period, but neither side could convert as the Blaze took a two-goal lead to the dressing room through 40 minutes.
It was the Clan’s turn to score early in the third, cutting the deficit to one through Brett Neumann, assisted by Rylan Schwartz and Tristin Langan at 43.37.
The visitors then pushed for the equaliser and were unlucky not to be level minutes later as they rang the iron of Robson’s net. The Blaze goalie was then forced to pull off a strong double save to deny Hugo Roy with just over ten minutes to go.
The Clan pulled Brine for the extra skater in the final minute, and the Blaze had two golden opportunities to put the game to bed into the empty net, but a post and a diving defensive play denied them. Clan called a timeout with 22 seconds to go, but despite the late pressure the Blaze stood firm to take the 2-1 victory and their first win of the Elite League regular season.
Photo credit: Scott Stevens
