The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze added a point to their Elite League tally, but were defeated 2-3 by Glasgow Clan via a penalty shoot-out at Skydome Arena on Sunday.
The fixture was part of a league wide initiative, celebrating inclusivity and equality in ice hockey, a message the Blaze were proud to present on the night.
Blaze welcomed Milton Keynes Lightning forward Mack Stewart into the line-up, called up from the NIHL to provide depth in the absence of British pair Jack Hopkins and Nathan Ripley. Defenceman Archie Hazeldine returned, but Canadian duo Mitch Cook and James Shearer were sidelined through injury.
Coventry took a lead when the in-form Kobe Roth re-directed Johnny Curran’s pass into the net for 1-0 at 15.52.
The Clan tied the game with just over a minute remaining in the first period as Luke Lynch picked up a bouncing puck and took it around Taran Kozun to make it 1-1 on 18.52.
Roth’s second and 19th of the regular season came at 22.59 with the American beating Jake Kielly with a smart shot glove side, the assist again going to Curran.
Glasgow thought they had tied the game again at 35.55 but Michael Pelech’s effort was ruled out due to a distinct kicking motion which put the puck into the net.
Clan’s equaliser came on 49.06 when top scorer Gary Haden found space and he bagged his 16th of the season with a tidy finish past Kozun.
Blaze were awarded a late powerplay opportunity but despite piling pressure on the Clan goal, they were unable to find a winner with Jake Kielly making several outstanding saves to keep the score tied 2-2.
For the umpteenth time this season, the Blaze were taken to overtime where J.D. Dudek was so nearly the hero again, hitting the crossbar 19 seconds into the additional period.
Glasgow’s best chance fell to Charlie Combs who was denied one-on-one by Kozun.
With no winner in the additional five minutes, the game went to penalty shots where only Haden was able to score to give the Clan the two points with a 2-3 victory.
Photo credit: Scott Wiggins
