The Guildford Flames produced a third-period comeback to claim a 3-4 victory over the Genting Casino Coventry Blaze at the Skydome Arena on Sunday.
Coventry started at full throttle and deservedly took the lead at 5.10. William Boysen finished off a well-worked passing play involving Jere Vertanen and Matthew Gleason to make it 1-0.
The Blaze doubled their advantage less than two minutes later, at 6.59. Defenceman Ivan Chukarov jumped into the rush and caused chaos in the Flames’ zone, with his effort eluding Justin Fazio for his first goal for the club. Sam Ruffin and Zaine McKenzie were credited with the assists.
Guildford got on the board just 51 seconds into the second period after a messy sequence from Coventry allowed the Flames to break on a three-on-zero. Jack Jacome made no mistake, converting from Nick Seitz and Taylor Busch.
At 22.28, the Blaze restored their two-goal cushion on the powerplay. A face-off win set up in-form blue-liner Vertanen, whose backhand finish made it 3-1 which was his fourth goal in five games. Guildford pressed with a pair of powerplays late in the period, but Coventry’s penalty killers held firm.
The game flipped dramatically in the third. Jacome struck again at 41.07 with an unusual goal, chopping at the puck with his back to the net, yet somehow beating Mat Robson to pull the Flames within one.
Guildford then drew level at 53.52. Mathieu Gosselin buried the rebound after an unfortunate bounce off the backboards from a Cole Ully shot that missed the target.
Ully would later be the hero, pouncing on a net-front scramble to score the game-winning goal with 1.17 remaining. The play required a lengthy discussion between the officials and the Blaze bench before being confirmed.
Coventry pulled Robson for the extra skater in the final minute but were unable to find an equaliser, as the Flames held on to celebrate a hard-earned comeback victory.
Photo credit: Scott Stevens
