Blaze’s Challenge Cup Hopes End in Defeat to Flames
The DPD Coventry Blaze’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the 2026/27 Challenge Cup came to an end on Sunday as they suffered a 3-5 defeat to the Guildford Flames at Skydome Arena.
The visitors struck first at 10:57, moments after killing a penalty to former Blaze defenceman Jordan Power. Emerging from the penalty box, Power joined Jack Jacome in setting up Karl Boudrias, who converted a cross-ice pass to put Guildford ahead. The Flames held their lead through to the first intermission.
Blaze drew level at 26:35 through Matthew Gleason. Andrew Nielsen did well to keep the puck inside the zone following a Flames clearance before his shot produced a rebound that Gleason turned home.
Guildford were unable to capitalise on an 83-second five-on-three powerplay midway through the period. However, they regained the lead late in the frame, just after a powerplay had expired. Travis Brown circled the net before finding Justin Ducharme in space, and the forward finished well past Evan Fitzpatrick to make it 2-1.
Blaze thought they had equalised before the second intermission when Griffin Ness found the net, but a video review ruled out the goal after confirming the puck crossed the line milliseconds after the period had expired.
The hosts needed less than a minute of the third period to restore parity. Just 43 seconds after the restart, Jaxson Ezman made it 2-2, finishing off good direct play from Artem Buzoverya and Márkó Csollák.
Blaze then completed a rapid turnaround, with Gleason scoring his second of the night just 35 seconds later to put the home side ahead for the first time. Carson Musser deserved credit for the assist, producing a stylish play on the blue line before picking out Gleason with a well-placed pass.
However, the Flames responded strongly. Josh Waller levelled the contest at 47:08, his long-range effort finding its way into the net after sustained pressure in the offensive zone.
Guildford regained the lead just 39 seconds later. Jacome won the face-off, Brown sent a shot towards goal, and Tyler Busch converted the rebound to make it 3-4. The assist was Jacome’s third of the night.
With Fitzpatrick pulled for the extra skater in the closing stages, the Flames sealed the victory when Brett Neumann scored into the empty net at 58:34.
The defeat ended Blaze’s hopes of progressing to the Challenge Cup semi-finals. For Guildford, however, a four-point weekend against Coventry guaranteed them at least a chance to reach the semi-finals through the play-in elimination game.