The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze defeated the Guildford Flames 4-3 following a thrilling shoot-out at the Skydome Arena.
Canadian forward Mitch Cook made his Blaze debut after signing earlier in the week and he made an instant impression laying a big hit on his first shift of the night.
Despite Coventry starting strong and heavily outshooting their opposition, it was the away side who took the lead through Ian Watters at 10.02 on the powerplay.
The Blaze didn’t let the goal deter their efforts though and they were rewarded with an equaliser at 14.16 when Captain Justin Hamonic finally managed to beat Flames goalie Kevin Lindskoug with a long-range effort.
In the second period, veteran Janne Laakkonen pounced on a rebound at 24.10 to score his second goal in as many games to make it 2-1.
Newbie Cook was called for netminder interference at 28.53 and the Flames quickly capitalised again on the powerplay through Ian McNulty at 30.35.
Cook soon helped put Blaze back in the lead, collecting an assist for Nate Halbert who scored at 33.28 following Cook’s hard work to hustle the puck back from behind the Flames’ net.
Frustratingly for Coventry, the Flames again found a way back as Levi Cable converted Brett Ferguson’s smart pass to make it 3-3 at 38.56.
The Blaze, roared on by a rowdy home crowd, pushed for a winner late and it so nearly came when Ross Venus hammered a shot on goal which hit the post, bounced off the back of Lindskoug, but the puck just wouldn’t go in.
An exciting period of overtime followed with both teams coming close to finding a winner but it wasn’t to be as the game headed to a shoot-out.
Motte stopped all five of the Flames’ shots and eventually Evan Bloodoff converted on the final shot to win the game for the Blaze.
