Coventry Blaze capitulate in third period at home to Guildford Flames

In the second of three home encounters in a week, the Coventry Blaze surrendered a two-goal advantage in the third period to the Guildford Flames in what proved their first home defeat in five games.

Seeking to maintain this solid recent home form, the Blaze picked up where they had left off following Sunday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Dundee Stars. Beginning the stronger of the two sides, Coventry were only denied the opener five minutes in by a fantastic save from visiting goaltender Jake Kupsky after a quick counter. Blaze goalie Mat Robson sought to replicate his man of the match performance on Sunday and secured three fantastic saves of his own within the opening eight minutes.

Guildford arrived at the Skydome Arena in high spirits following a convincing 6-2 Sunday triumph at home to the Sheffield Steelers, and were backed by an impressive twenty-plus travelling fans. That’s more than Ipswich Town took on their average League One away day two years ago.

Yet, it was Coventry that took the ascendency a man down, forward Nick Seitz drawing an infraction and being awarded the chance to open the scoring with a penalty shot

Blaze forward Brandon Alderson took no time in continuing his recent infraction habit, serving two minutes in the penalty box for tripping as the first period entered its midpoint.

Yet, it was Coventry that took the ascendency a man down, forward Nick Seitz drawing an infraction and being awarded the chance to open the scoring with a penalty shot. His effort, though, was denied by Kupsky.

Coventry would have felt unlucky not to have taken a lead into the first interval having had the better of the opening exchanges. Yet, less than a minute after forward Alessio Luciani tried his luck at Kupsky, Luciani and fellow forward Jack Hopkins combined with the latter scoring on the rebound from another desperate Kupsky save.

Frustrated heading into the interval on level terms, Coventry began the second period in the same attacking fashion as they had spent the majority of the first, Seitz again coming close one minute in

With less than two minutes on the clock, though, the Flames made an immediate reply with returning Great Britain international forward Lewis Hook finding the equaliser.

Frustrated heading into the interval on level terms, Coventry began the second period in the same attacking fashion as they had spent the majority of the first, Seitz again coming close one minute in.

Both sides suffered penalty troubles in the opening minutes of the second period, Blaze forward Kim Tallberg serving two minutes in the penalty box and then Flames defenseman Charlie Dodero receiving a major five minute penalty for tripping. With Dodero still out as Tallberg returned to the ice Coventry capitalised on their numerical advantage, Seitz finally converting one of his multiple opportunities to restore the lead.

Entering the final twenty the Blaze could not have been in a better position

Three minutes later the Blaze were mistaken when they thought they had doubled their advantage; forward Michael Regush following up from another Kupsky save only to be denied after video review for a high stick.

The next ten passed without event as the Blaze were made to wait to increase their advantage, until with just over a minute on the clock a determined Regush capped off a productive second period by applying the finishing touch to yet another terrific Coventry counter.

Entering the final twenty the Blaze could not have been in a better position. Yet less than five mins into the third period the Flames halved the deficit, forward Brett Ferguson sliding the puck past an unsighted Robson.

Coventry will be left scratching their heads as to what went so wrong in the final twenty

A minute later the Blaze were once again down a man, this time forward Chase Gresock the one guilty of infraction, and before they could compose themselves Flames defenseman Charlie Curti made it a tie game.

At this point it seemed there was to be only one winner, and sure enough five minutes later forward Ethan Strang gave Guildford the lead for the first time in the encounter.

With nine minutes left, the Blaze threw everything at Guildford to salvage at least a point but to no avail. Flames forward Matt Alvaro sealed the game with the fourth consecutive Flames score, and when Robson was caught in the Guildford half with ninety seconds on the clock, Hook capped off an astounding final quarter with his second and his team’s sixth.

Coventry will be left scratching their heads as to what went so wrong in the final twenty, but weekend fixtures away to the Manchester Storm and home to the Fife Flyers provide ample opportunity to put right tonight’s result.