The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze collected a point on New Year’s Day but fell on the wrong side of a powerplay battle with the Nottingham Panthers, losing 3-4 in overtime in front of a huge Skydome Arena crowd.
Coventry made one change to the line-up that had produced a stunning comeback victory in Nottingham the night before, with Jere Vertanen replacing Ivan Chukarov on the blue line.
The Panthers brought in former Blaze defenceman Jakob Stridsberg in place of Cooper Zech and gave Jason Grande the start in net, with Kevin Carr dropping out. Mat Robson received the back-to-back start for the Blaze.
The opening period was back and forth, with both goalies tested early, but disciplined play at both ends meant clear-cut scoring chances were at a premium. Bryan Lemos and Chase Pearson enjoyed the best looks for the Panthers, but Robson stood firm.
The deadlock was finally broken at 16.48 when Sam Ruffin took control of a Panthers turnover and found Grant Mismash in space. Mismash wound up and fired past Grande to give the Blaze a 1-0 lead.
Both goaltenders were again busy early in the second period, but as in the opening frame, wide-open chances were scarce. With just a single penalty called against the Panthers up to the halfway point, neither side was able to generate sustained offensive momentum.
That changed in the latter stages of the period as special teams began to dictate the contest.
Nottingham’s first powerplay came at 32.48 and they made it count. David Noel’s shot was rebounded into the slot, where Lemos collected the puck and fed Matt Alfaro, who made no mistake to level the game at 1-1 at 33.07.
The Panthers struck again on the man advantage at 37.26. On a similar play to their first, Chase Pearson put home a rebound from a Matthew Marcinew shot to give the visitors the lead.
The Blaze responded with a powerplay goal of their own early in the third period. Vertanen, continuing his impressive offensive form, collected a drop pass from Matthew Gleason and blasted a shot past Grande for his fifth powerplay goal of the season at 46.22.
Coventry then went ahead on another man advantage. After a slick passing move to tie the game, the go-ahead goal was all about hard work, as Alessio Luciani won a battle in front of the net to force the puck past Grande, with Grayson Constable picking up the assist at 49.55.
The Panthers made it 3-for-3 on the powerplay at 51.37, Marcinew turning scorer on a second opportunity in close, assisted by Pearson, to tie the game at 3-3.
An awkward-looking hit on Jordan Power handed the Blaze another powerplay opportunity inside the final five minutes, but this time the Panthers’ penalty killers held firm.
Nottingham finished regulation on the man advantage and carried it into overtime. Coventry successfully killed it off to force 3-on-3 play, where Mismash had the first big chance on a 2-on-1, only for Grande to come up with a crucial save.
Pearson then broke in 2-on-1 for the Panthers, hitting the post before Nottingham were handed yet another powerplay chance to decide the game.
The Blaze dug deep, but with just 17 seconds remaining on the man advantage, Noel struck with a fourth powerplay goal at 64.19 to seal a 3-4 overtime victory for the Panthers who moved back to the top of the Elite League table.
Photo: Scott Stevens
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