The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze suffered a 1-6 defeat in their Elite League regular season home opener against the Sheffield Steelers.
Just like the Challenge Cup clash a week earlier, the Steelers came out strong on the Skydome ice and took an early commanding lead, scoring three times within the opening 12 minutes.
The opener came from Mitchell Balmas, assisted by Brien Diffley, at 3.38. The Blaze had a powerplay opportunity to stem the Steelers’ momentum, but after failing to generate much pressure, Sheffield returned to full strength and doubled their lead at 8.35 through Robert Dowd, assisted by Stephen Harper.
Balmas and Diffley then combined again for Sheffield’s third, timed at 12.18, putting Coventry in a deep hole.
A mistake on the man advantage gave Cliff Pu the chance to make it 0–4 at 17.36, and the hat-trick hero from the week before made no mistake – extending the visitors’ commanding lead heading into the first intermission.
The Blaze made a goalie change to begin the second period, with Dershahn Stewart replacing Mat Robson.
Stewart was tested early but quickly warmed into the game, coming up with several strong saves to keep the scoreline from getting further away from Coventry.
Grant Mismash was the Blaze’s most dangerous forward, hitting the crossbar of Matthew Greenfield’s goal and forcing an outstanding save from the Steelers’ netminder with four minutes remaining in the middle frame.
There was nothing Stewart could do to deny Mitchell Balmas his hat-trick goal with 1:07 left in the second period, making it 0-5 on the powerplay. Stephen Harper and Nicola Gentile collected the assists.
After their fourth powerplay opportunity of the game had just expired, Sheffield made it 0-6 at 42.45, scored by Harper, his third point of the night, assisted by Derek Gentile and new recruit from the Glasgow Clan, Mitchell Heard.
Grayson Constable grabbed a consolation for the Blaze at 53.02, with helpers from Matthew Gleason and Alessio Luciani, but that was all the home side had to celebrate as their home opener ended in disappointment with a 1-6 defeat.
Photo credit: Scott Wiggins
