The DPD Coventry Blaze were left to rue a slow start as they fell to a 3-5 Challenge Cup defeat against the Manchester Storm at Skydome Arena on Saturday. Blaze went into the game without centreman Tanner Kaspick, while American forward Grant Mismash has been confirmed as being sidelined long-term after undergoing surgery. Manchester found themselves in penalty trouble early on, giving Coventry an opportunity to seize the initiative. However, despite back-to-back powerplay opportunities, the Blaze were unable to find a way past Storm netminder Drew DeRidder. The visitors took the lead midway through the opening period after a back-and-forth spell of play. Brandon Cutler collected a loose puck and beat Evan Fitzpatrick to make it 0-1, with Anton Karlsson and Brendon Clavelle providing the assists. Sequential penalties to Loren Ulett and Joseph Nardi at 9:20 handed Coventry a full two-minute 5-on-3 powerplay, but the Storm dug deep to kill off the danger. Their defensive efforts were rewarded at 17:44 when Bradley Jenion doubled the advantage, redirecting home a shot with former Blaze forward J.D. Dudek and Lewis Hook credited with the assists. Fitzpatrick produced a stunning save shortly before the 15-minute mark, but just seconds later there was nothing he could do to deny Kyle Maksimovich. The Manchester forward powered his way to the net and finished in tight to make it 0-3, with Tim MacGauley and Drydn Dow assisting. Tensions boiled over in the final minute of the period as Ulett dropped the gloves with Blaze defenceman Carson Musser. Fitzpatrick became involved in the ensuing scuffle before Storm’s Kyle Locke confronted the Coventry netminder, with both players receiving roughing penalties. Coventry found themselves spending more time in the penalty box during the middle period, and the Storm made them pay. Maksimovich grabbed his second of the night at 33:47 on the powerplay, with MacGauley and Cutler picking up the assists. The Blaze finally got on the board just 57 seconds later when Matthew Gleason converted past DeRidder after receiving a well-spotted outlet pass from Griffin Ness to make it 1-4. Coventry came flying out for the third period and reduced the deficit just 55 seconds in. A Storm pass out of their defensive zone became stuck on the wet ice, allowing Great Britain international Brett Perlini to pounce and fire a quick shot past DeRidder to make it 2-4. However, the Storm restored their three-goal advantage less than a minute later. After Maksimovich was hooked while breaking away, the Canadian forward stepped up to take the resulting penalty shot and completed his hat-trick at 41:50. Blaze refused to give up and were back within two at 48:51. Artie Buzoverya used his strength to finish on a partial breakaway after Jaxson Ezman produced a smart backhand pass, making it 3-5. Coventry pushed hard for another comeback in the closing stages, but Manchester held firm to secure the two Challenge Cup points.