The Manchester Storm completed a four-point weekend against the Genting Casino Coventry Blaze, taking a narrow 1-2 victory on Retro Night from Skydome Arena on Sunday.
Aidan Spellacy had the first big chance of the night for Coventry, but as became the story of the night was denied by an inspired Evan Weninger in the Manchester net.
Tyler Hinam hit the Blaze crossbar whilst shorthanded ahead of the ten-minute mark before Zack Phillips found the opener at 12.13, converting from the slot following a well spotted pass by Dallas Ehrhardt.
Blaze’s Alessio Luciani hit the bar early in the second before Weninger again came up big to deny Spellacy on a shorthanded opportunity.
Weninger’s superlatives continued and on the 30-minute mark, he pulled off a wonder save to deny James Shearer before Taran Kozun at the other end matched his opposite number to keep the score at one.
Storm’s second came at 32.29 when Michael Korol’s effort was adjudged to cross the line despite Kozun’s best efforts to keep it out.
Blaze were awarded a short 5-on-3 opportunity with 4.31 remaining and Kobe Roth was finally able to beat Weninger to make it 1-2 and register his team leading 24th of the regular season.
With 1.36 remaining, Coventry were unlucky not to tie the game as they pinged a puck off the bar.
Shortly after, coach Danny Stewart called a time-out and pulled Kozun for the extra skater but the Storm and Weninger were able to hang on for a fifth consecutive victory and claim their playoff place.
Coventry, meanwhile, have a fight on their hands to make the post-season over the final five games of the campaign.
