The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze showed real resilience on Saturday night, returning from Surrey with a hard-earned two points after a dramatic 1-2 sudden-death shootout victory over the Guildford Flames.
Coventry made the trip south without regular defensive pair Colton Saucerman and Ivan Chukarov, forcing Captain Kim Tallberg and Zack McKenzie, both natural forwards, to drop back and support the blue-line. Up front, the Blaze were boosted by the return of Assistant Captain Grayson Constable and Artie Buzoverya.
The Blaze started brightly, with the best early chance falling to Buzoverya, but the Ukrainian was unable to settle a pass well enough to beat Jake Kupsky in the Flames’ net. At the other end, former Coventry forward Nick Seitz struck the post behind Mat Robson before the home side earned the first powerplay of the night.
Shortly after killing the penalty, Coventry opened the scoring. Grant Mimico fired home a one-timer at 11.06, finishing a neat passing move from Archie Hazeldine and Sam Duggan to give the Blaze a 0-1 lead. Coventry pressed for a second, with Jack Hopkins denied on the rush by a sharp save from Kupsky.
The Blaze successfully killed a second Guildford powerplay late in the period to preserve their narrow advantage heading into the first intermission.
Guildford hit the iron again less than two minutes into the middle frame, this time through Captain Matt Alvaro, before earning a third powerplay opportunity. Coventry’s penalty-kill remained perfect, and moments later the visitors were awarded a penalty shot. However, Matthew Gleason was unable to convert, with Kupsky standing firm just beyond the halfway point of the game.
The Flames drew level at 35.09 when Seitz pounced on a loose puck in the crease after Robson’s initial save, tapping home from close range. Coventry ended the period on the powerplay but couldn’t restore their lead, and the sides went into the second break tied at one.
The Blaze came close to reclaiming the advantage early in the third when Adam Robbins’ shot rattled the crossbar. Chances followed at both ends, with Travis Brown going close for Guildford and Alessio Luciani testing Kupsky for Coventry, but neither netminder would be beaten again in regulation.
With the scores still level, the contest moved to overtime. Drama followed late in the extra period when Alvaro was assessed a 5-minute major and game misconduct for checking from behind on Gleason, giving the Blaze a 4-on-3 advantage with just two minutes remaining. Guildford weathered the storm, sending the game to a shootout.
After three successful attempts apiece, the shootout progressed to sudden death. Finnish defenceman Jere Vertanen, who had already scored earlier, stepped up again in the seventh round and coolly netted the decisive effort to secure a 1-2 victory for the Blaze.
Photo credit: John Uwins
