Coventry Blaze rout sorry Fife Flyers in remarkable contest

On Sunday 23 March, Coventry Blaze returned to the Skydome Arena for the visit of bottom Elite League side Fife Flyers, having edged Dundee Stars 4-3 on the road the day prior. In a remarkable attacking display, the Blaze hit the visitors for seven to secure another crucial four-point weekend in the final charge towards the playoffs.

After a scrappy opening five minutes, Kim Tallberg profited off a charitable error from Flyers goalie Jānis Voris to open the scoring. The Blaze having cleared their lines, Voris exited his goal and entirely miscontrolled the loose puck right into the path of the onrushing Tallberg, who caressed into the empty net.

Midway through the period, the Blaze were unlucky not to double their advantage, Brandon Alderson feeding Nick Seitz who hit the goalframe.

This missed powerplay opportunity proved to be the story of the evening for the Flyers

Soon after, the Flyers were presented with their first powerplay opportunity on the night to tie the game, Blaze defenceman Terence Amarosa being sent to the penalty box for a minor hooking infraction.

Blaze goalie Mat Robson twice denied Phélix Martineau and then Michael Cichy to see out the one-man deficit unscathed.

This missed powerplay opportunity proved to be the story of the evening for a Flyers side plagued by numerous issues off the ice this season.

The Flyers, though, kept the score to 1-0 heading into the first interval, Voris denying Alexander Kuqali from distance and Seitz from close range in quick succession.

Coventry maintained their push for daylight when play resumed, Voris again being called into action on multiple occasions.

It took the Blaze less than a minute after the restart to add their fifth

The Flyers resistance could not hold for long, though, Alessio Luciani squaring to Seitz for a tap in to double the advantage six minutes in.

Following the restart, Cichy was sent to the penalty box to initiate the first Blaze powerplay of the evening. The hosts took no time in capitalising, Chase Gresock teeing up Alderson who fired in from distance beyond an unsighted Voris.

Gresock himself was soon to serve two minutes off the ice for delaying the game, but once again the Flyers couldn’t take advantage.

With eight minutes to go in the second period, Coventry increased their lead. Robson doing well to smother Austin Farley’s effort from close range, the Blaze turned defence into attack with Seitz notching his second of the game.

The Flyers saw another two powerplay opportunities pass them by before the second interval, Jack Hopkins and then Luciani having committed minor infractions.

Cichy almost pulled one back just before the buzzer, but trademark reflexes from Robson saw the Blaze head into the interval with their shutout intact. Cichy was visibly frustrated as the two sides vacated the ice, summing up the night’s action for the sorry Flyers.

The Blaze can take great encouragement from this weekend’s results

It took the Blaze less than a minute after the restart to add their fifth, Seitz squaring to Alderson to finish beyond Voris and continue the productive evening for the pair.

Two minutes in, Tallberg was guilty of a tripping infraction and sent to serve his turn in the penalty box. Despite the Flyers again proving no threat on the powerplay, such disciplinary issues will be something head coach Kevin Moore will be keen to iron out before the Blaze embark on the looming playoff campaign.

Flyers were then guilty of two minor infractions themselves, and from the second of the two powerplay opportunities Coventry hit their sixth, Tallberg cutting back for Alderson who completed his hat trick.

Before Blaze announcer John Dalziel could do his thing, Estonian international Morten Jürgens had made it seven to round off what had been a remarkable Coventry offensive performance.

The Flyers at least managed to send their visiting supporters home with something to cheer, Patrick Kyte and then Martineau stealing possession from rather casual Blaze passes to add two consolation goals.

Despite the lackadaisical finish, the Blaze can take great encouragement from this weekend’s results as they head into their final three fixtures of the regular Elite League season, beginning this Sunday at home to Glasgow Clan.