The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze produced a composed and clinical road performance to defeat the Glasgow Clan 1-1 at Braehead Arena on Saturday night in the Elite League.
Coventry made one change from their New Year’s Day line-up, with Ivan Chukarov returning to the defensive core in place of Connor Russell, while Colton Saucerman remained sidelined.
The Clan were missing four players in Chris McKay, Cade Neilson, Brett Neumann and Brayden Burke, but welcomed back Félix Paré.
Despite the long journey north, Blaze started sharply. Top scorer Matthew Gleason created the first clear chance, but his backhand effort was denied by Clan netminder Sami Aittokallio. At the other end, Mat Robson stood tall to turn away Daniel Tedesco before Coventry went close again, Grayson Constable striking the post eight minutes in.
The pressure told at 9.04 when Elijiah Barriga finished five-hole after a neat feed from Gleason to give Blaze a deserved 0-1 lead. Coventry doubled their advantage at 13.24 as Jordan Power opened his account for the club in his fifth appearance, blasting home a slapshot with assists from Grant Mismash and Sam Ruffin.
Glasgow responded before the break, capitalising on a powerplay when Captain Deven Sideroff converted a rebound from Rylan Schwartz at 16.35 to reduce the deficit to 1-2.
Coventry carried the momentum into the second period. Although their first powerplay went unrewarded, Barriga and Gleason continued to trouble the Clan defence. Both goaltenders were called into action as the period wore on, but no further scoring ensured the game remained finely poised heading into the third.
An early third-period powerplay proved decisive. At 46.04, Constable restored the two-goal cushion, finishing from close range after a clever behind-the-net pass from Alessio Luciani, with Barriga picking up the secondary assist.
Glasgow pushed hard in search of a way back, enjoying two powerplay opportunities, but Robson and a disciplined Blaze defence held firm. With Aittokallio pulled for the extra skater in the final minute, it was Coventry who struck again with Chukarov firing into the empty net with 16 seconds remaining to seal a commanding 1-4 victory.
