Coventry Blaze logged their first-ever Challenge Cup win at the Guildford Spectrum with a 5-3 victory over the Flames on Saturday night.
“Every shot is like a reset for me and you try to focus on the next one and stay focussed,” said Mat Robson, who faced 61 shots on the night in the win. “Our ability to dig deep tonight showed how resilient we are. We found a way to get through some tough situations and I think it gave us a spark to go on from there.”
Despite outshooting their visitors 19-7 in the opening period, the Flames were level through 20 minutes. Tyler Busch fired a shot through Mat Robson’s five-hole to put the hosts ahead at 8:22, but their lead lasted only six and a half minutes before Grant Mismash tapped home at the far post to tie things up.
“Their goalie played a really good game,” conceded Flames’ Cole Ully. “We put a lot of pucks on net but didn’t do a good enough job of getting to the net. They did a good job in front of Robson and he had an excellent game. We made too many mistakes and turnovers leading to their goals.”
Mike Pelech put the Blaze ahead 101 seconds into period two, finishing into a net that had been dislodged after Kim Tallberg’s initial play. As it was an immediate scoring opportunity, the goal was correctly awarded despite Travis Brown taking the net off its moorings. Ethan Strang was denied on a breakaway by Robson before Lewis Hook got the final touch to lift the puck over Robson at 34:54 to tie the game once again. It looked as if the teams would head to the break level, but Tallberg’s hard work set up Alessio Luciani for a slapshot that sailed past Taz Burman at 39:11 to restore Coventry’s lead. Archie Hazeldine nearly extended it, only for Burman to scramble across his crease to make a spectacular stop.
Sixty-seven seconds into the third, Jere Vertanen’s shot from the point was tipped past Burman by Matthew Gleason to put the Blaze two ahead.
“We wanted to make sure we capitalised on that powerplay at the start of the third, and we did to build that two-goal lead,” continued Robson. “I think we’re going to be a really strong third period team all season we we’re well-conditioned. I tried to do my job at the back and the guys did theirs in front of me and it worked out well for us tonight.”
Cole Ully pulled one back for the Flames just 45 seconds later. The hosts came close to tying things up but struggled to hit the target, and when Mack Stewart picked out Sam Ruffin to make it 5-3 at 51:39 the game was effectively sealed.
It was one of those nights for the Flames, who could only watch as Robson backstopped Coventry to a superb 58-save victory.
“It’s early in the season and we still have some things to figure out. Special teams are huge, we had a 5-on-3 and didn’t score and it’s definitely frustrating. We have to get that better and I’m sure our coaches will be looking at that.”
Photo: John Uwins
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