The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze were beaten 2-3 in the Elite League by Guildford Flames in their final home game before Christmas.
Blaze began the game with Canadian Taran Kozun in net backed up by countryman Nolan Kent who was able to enter the line-up in the absence of import forward Mitch Cook.
The in-form home side found themselves in an early hole as the Flames scored two early through Austin Glover (00.32) and Peter Crinella (4.29).
Like Wednesday in their sensational comeback and progression to the Challenge Cup Sem-Finals, the Blaze showed their fighting spirit and got back to within one before the end of the first period with Alessio Luciani scoring on a loose puck in front to make it 2-1 at 6.35.
Luciani’s second of the evening tied the game just ahead of the halfway mark (29.23), his tenth of the regular season being a highlight reel goal poked home with just one hand on his stick.
The Flames grabbed their lead back before the second period was over when dangerous defenceman Bradley Lalonde finished neatly at 38.40.
Incident was still to follow in the middle period as when David Clements was given a 5+game penalty for instigating a fight with Guildford Captain Brett Ferguson following a high hit.
Clements was also given two-minute penalty for goaltender interference after knocking Taz Burman over whilst being escorted off the ice by an official.
Blaze were able to kill the penalty to Clements to begin the third period and after that the Flames chose to sit back to defend their lead.
Coventry tried their best to find an equaliser but despite a late powerplay the closest they would come was Danny Kristo’s shot slamming off the pipes with just over five minutes remaining.
In defeat Blaze’s seven game winning run in the Elite League came to an end.
Photo credit: Scott Wiggins
