The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze completed a four-point weekend with a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory over the Sheffield Steelers at the Skydome Arena on Sunday night.
Following their impressive comeback win in Cardiff against the Devils, the Blaze carried momentum onto home ice and secured another crucial two points in front of over 2,200 passionate supporters.
The Blaze started brightly and were rewarded just 4.13 into the game when Chase Gresock fired high over Matt Greenfield’s shoulder to open the scoring.
However, the Steelers responded late in the period as Joona Huutula finished off a well-worked play to level the game at 1-1.
Despite a late push from both sides, it was the Blaze who took a lead into the first intermission. Nick Seitz capitalised on a Steelers turnover, taking a pass from Alessio Luciani, and once again he beat Greenfield high to make it 2-1 at 18.48.
The Steelers pushed back hard in the second period, with Mat Robson standing tall in the Blaze net to deny a flurry of chances. Eventually, the visitors’ pressure paid off as Huutula struck for his second of the night at 30.25, bringing the game level once more.
The physicality ramped up immediately after the goal, as Robert Dowd and Mike Kennedy dropped the gloves in a heated exchange.
Despite the end-to-end action in the second half of the game, neither side could find a go-ahead goal in regulation, setting up a tense overtime period.
The Steelers had the first big opportunity in the extra frame, hitting the post, but the turning point came at 60.57 when Mikko Juusola was called for hooking.
The Blaze made full use of the man advantage, and at 61.47, Gresock fired his league leading 43rd point and joint-best 22nd goal through a screen to win it for Coventry, sending the Skydome into raptures.
Photo credit: Scott Wiggins
