NOTTINGHAM, UK – In the 2nd semi final of the Elite League Play Offs the Belfast Giants took on the Coventry Blaze at the National Ice Centre in a game that faced off at 5pm.
The opening period of play saw both sides get on the scoresheet as Jeff Mason opened the scoring for Belfast with a nicely taken goal before Coventry were awarded a goal on video evidence through a DaCosta strike. Belfast did have the better of the opening stanza of action as the shot count showed as Giants out shot Blaze 12-4 in the first 20 
minutes of the game.
The Giants continued to create more openings in the 2nd period and Belfast took the lead after 31 minutes of play when Ray Sawada fired home from close range. As the period progressed Coventry were showing more impetus going forward with Jereme Tendler and Ryan O’Marra both looking dangerous at times for the Blaze. However Belfast still generated a great many more shots than Coventry for the 2nd period in succession.
The third stanza of action saw Coventry come flying out of the blocks and Blaze had levelled the game up under 2 minutes into the 3rd period of play with a Jereme Tendler goal from close range after Belfast had been unable to clear the puck out of their own zone. As the game progressed Coventry continued to create openings withSteve Goertzen almost getting on the end a superb Tendler cross ice pass. However there were no further goals in regulation time which saw the game go into sudden death overtime where the 2 teams played 4 on 4 hockey.
Coventry’s O’Marra had the best chance in overtime however Belfast goalie Chubak was able to deny him with a brilliant toe save when a goal looked inevitable with just 90 seconds left to play in the game. The game went into penalty shots and it was the Blaze who came out on top thanks to a strike from Ben Arnt and 3 top class saves from Coventry netminder Brian Stewart which gave them a narrow victory over the Belfast Giants.
The Man of the Match Awards went to Jereme Tendler for the Coventry Blaze and Nathan Robinson for the Belfast Giants. Coventry will now face the Sheffield Steelers in the Play Off Final tomorrow with Belfast Giants taking on the Hull Stingrays in the 3rd/4th place game that takes place earlier in the day.
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