The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze bounced back in emphatic fashion from their Challenge Cup Final disappointment, overturning an early deficit to secure a convincing 7-3 victory over the Fife Flyers at the Skydome Arena in Elite League action on Saturday.
The visitors made a fast start, stunning the Blaze with two early goals. At 7.18, Ben Brown opened the scoring for Fife with his first professional goal, capitalising on a rebound after a strong board battle by Rowan Mills. Less than three minutes later, at 9.56, Justin Ducharme doubled the Flyers’ lead, finishing off a broken play into a near-empty net.
Coventry responded on the powerplay to get back into the game, with Adam Robbins striking at 13.02 after good work from Jordan Power following a turnover forced by Jere Vertanen.
The Blaze quickly levelled through Artem Buzoverya at 13.51, reacting first to a rebound involving Michael Pelech and Connor Russell.
Fife regained the lead early in the second period through Ducharme’s second of the night at 24.43, as he slipped behind the defence and beat the Blaze netminder with a sharp wrist shot.
That goal prompted a timeout from Blaze Head Coach Kevin Moore, a decision that proved pivotal.
Straight from the restart, Coventry equalised at 24.57. Elijiah Barriga’s clever toe-drag and pass set up William Boysen to make it 3-3. Moments later, at 25.41, Grant Mismash fired the Blaze ahead for the first time, finishing Grayson Constable’s feed to reach the 20-goal mark for the season – the first Coventry player to do so.
The Blaze extended their advantage late in the second period with a short-handed effort at 36.35. Constable again drove the play, creating a 3-on-2 before feeding Power, who finished clinically for his third point of the night and eventual Man of the Match honours.
Coventry maintained control in the third period. Mismash added his second of the game at 50.04, tipping in a shot from Colton Saucerman to make it 6-3. The scoring was completed by Robbins, who netted his second of the night at 56.50 after another strong play from Constable, sealing an impressive 7-3 victory.
Photo credit: Scott Wiggins
