The DPD Coventry Blaze fought back late to defeat Gothiques d’Amiens of the French Ligue Magnus 5-4 in an entertaining pre-season encounter at Skydome Arena on Sunday.
For the second consecutive pre-season game, Blaze started brightly, with Amiens netminder Mathis Thirion having to make a stream of solid saves to keep the hosts off the scoresheet.
At the opposite end, Finn Sisu Heikkeri made his Coventry debut and also impressed during the early stages.
It was the visitors who took the lead into the first intermission, with Nicholas Girouard putting in a strong shift before assisting Gabriel Bernier, who converted from the resulting rebound.
Blaze levelled early in the second period with a neat tic-tac-toe passing move on the powerplay. Defenceman Andrew Nielsen finished from Griffin Ness and Jaxson Ezman at 23:10 to make it 1-1.
The physicality increased as the period progressed, with David Clements dropping the gloves with Ilies Djemel just past the halfway mark, with the Blaze defenceman coming out on top in the encounter.
Grant Mismash and Enzo Benoit then exchanged blows, while Zaine McKenzie also stepped in to protect his home rink, getting involved with Hugo Robert.
Blaze emerged from the incidents with a powerplay opportunity and made it count to take the lead. Tanner Kaspic scored from close range at 35:00, despite being bundled into the net. The goal was awarded following a short video review.
Amiens responded just 1:36 later, with Esteban Voiturier feeding Bernier on a 2-on-1 before the forward finished well past Heikkeri to make it 2-2.
The visitors then regained the lead at 37:50 after capitalising on a Blaze line change. Former Fife Flyers duo Brandon Magee and Kieran Craig combined, with Craig finishing five-hole to give Amiens a 2-3 advantage after 40 minutes.
Blaze had an early opportunity to level in the third period when they were awarded another powerplay, but were unable to make the advantage count.
The physicality continued, with another scrum breaking out with 15 minutes remaining following a big hit by Ness.
Former Blaze forward Elijah Barriga then produced a highlight-reel moment to extend Amiens’ lead at 49:34. Digging the puck out of a face-off scrum, Barriga drove towards the net before putting the puck between his legs and finishing with an impressive between-the-legs effort to make it 2-4.
Blaze refused to give up and were back within one with just over four minutes remaining. Matthew Gleason fed Carson Musser, who fired the puck past Thirion at 55:57 to make it 3-4.
With Coventry chasing an equaliser, Heikkeri was pulled for the extra skater and Blaze piled on the pressure. Their persistence was rewarded with just 1:10 remaining when Nick Grima found the back of the net on the 6-on-5 to tie the game at 4-4 and force overtime.
The comeback was completed just 44 seconds into the additional period.
Matthew Gleason was hauled back on a short-handed breakaway, earning a penalty shot, and made no mistake, sealing a dramatic 5-4 victory for Blaze.
