The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze were forced to settle for a hard-earned point following a 4-3 shoot-out defeat to the Elite League title-chasing Sheffield Steelers at the Utilita Arena on Saturday night.
Blaze were unchanged from their mid-week Challenge Cup Semi-Final victory, while the Steelers opted to start in-form American netminder Eamon McAdam.
Coventry opened the scoring at 7.04 when defenceman Jordan Power jumped into the offence and found the dangerous Matthew Gleason, who finished his 18th goal of the season to make it 0-1.
After enjoying the first powerplay opportunity of the game, the Steelers levelled when Reece Kelly’s stretch pass found Joona Huttula, who then fed Patrick Watling to score at the back post at 12.30.
Blaze almost regained the lead soon after, but McAdam stood strong to deny Grant Mismash on a breakaway before Grayson Constable’s re-direct effort pinged off the crossbar.
Coventry then had netminder Mat Robson to thank for keeping the score level heading into the first intermission. The outstanding Canadian first produced a stunning double save on Kevin Tansey before stonewalling Mitchell Heard when he found himself wide open in the slot.
Blaze’s first powerplay opportunity came early in the second period and they made it count.
William Boysen’s shot was stopped by McAdam, but Gleason’s persistence in front kept the puck alive and Adam Robbins jumped on the loose puck to convert for 1-2 at 22.09.
Sheffield responded quickly at 23.46 when Robert Dowd’s hard shot rebounded off Robson, allowing Dominic Cormier to eventually force the puck home on the third attempt after the Blaze goalie made two initial saves.
Coventry went ahead for a third time when a play in tight somehow found its way past a sprawling McAdam and into the net, with Mike Pelech credited with the goal at 25.02.
The Steelers answered back again as the game turned into a toe-to-toe offensive battle. Evan Jasper fired past Robson at 26.03 after being set up by Jack Dougherty from behind the net to make it 3-3.
After an explosive first half of the period, the pace settled as both sides tightened up approaching the second intermission.
Sheffield were unlucky not to take the lead with 12 minutes remaining when Jasper struck the post behind Robson before the Steelers earned a powerplay that saw Jere Vertanen clear one off the goal line to keep the Blaze level.
Ryan Tait hit the crossbar again for the home side with eight minutes to play as Sheffield continued to press for a winner.
Blaze re-tilted the ice in their favour in the closing minutes but were unable to find the decisive goal, sending the contest into sudden-death overtime.
After a cautious start to the extra period, Mismash came agonisingly close to finding the winner, hitting the post with just over two minutes remaining.
The cagey overtime session ended without a goal, sending the game to penalty shots.
Heard opened the scoring in the shoot-out for Sheffield in the first round, before the league’s top goalscorer Mitchell Balmas added another in round two.
Grant Mismash responded for Coventry in the fourth round, but after Kim Tallberg lost control of his attempt in the final round, the Steelers secured the win and a 4-3 final score.
