Coventry Blaze reached their first Challenge Cup Final since the 2006/07 season with a 6-3 win in Belfast over the Giants, advancing 9-5 on aggregate.
The Blaze entered the game 3-2 ahead on aggregate following the first leg.
“We knew what it was all about. We came in here and we were one goal up. They got the first one, of course made it an even game right away, but I think we were collective and we did what we could, and the result went our way tonight” began a delighted Blaze captain Kim Tallberg.
The Giants opened the scoring after a great piece of skill from Brandon Whistle allowed him to beat two Blaze players before squaring the puck to Carsen Twarynski, who finished to level the tie at 10:42.
However, the Blaze quickly restored their aggregate advantage after Matthew Gleason capitalised on a Giants mistake. A poor pass allowed Gleason to break away with only Jake Kupsky to beat, and he stayed calm to finish and tie the game on the night while putting the Blaze back ahead in the tie at 17:36.
“We talked a lot about this format internally, not changing,” added Tallberg. “It’s external stuff and a big game, but internally we knew what to do. Even though it’s a big game and they scored one, it’s not going to make us fall. We are collectively strong right now.”
Coventry doubled their aggregate lead midway through the second period when Gleason grabbed his second of the night. The puck broke kindly to him after Kupsky blocked Elijah Barriga’s shot, and he fired into the roof of the net at 30:34.
The Blaze increased their advantage further through Jere Vertanen at 36:12. His shot from just inside the blue line caught Kupsky out and found its way into the back of the net, putting the Blaze three ahead on aggregate with 20 minutes remaining.
Just 3:47 into the third period, Alessio Luciani intercepted a pass and caught the Giants the other way before rounding Kupsky to score Coventry’s fourth goal of the night and extend their aggregate lead to four.
Ryan Smith pulled one back for the Giants, and with five minutes remaining head coach Adam Keefe pulled Kupsky for the extra attacker. The gamble paid off as Twarynski scored with 4:44 to play to cut the deficit to two overall.
Kupsky was pulled again shortly afterwards, but this time the Giants were punished as Jack Hopkins fired into the empty net from centre ice at 56:04 to all but seal the tie. Colton Saucerman added a second empty-net goal with nine seconds remaining to confirm the Blaze’s place in the final.
But making the final is’t enough for Tallberg. “Of course it means a lot but we are not happy yet. We want to finish this, but it’s a good step and we are super proud of the boys. It was awesome” he added.
Photo: William Cherry
