Genting Casino Coventry Blaze secured a second successive four-point weekend in the Elite League after beating Nottingham Panthers 2-1 at the Skydome.
Blaze were without Justin DaCosta and Steven Goertzen through injury so Jakub Sindel was drafted back into the line-up.
First-period markers from Ryan O’Marra (8.09 powerplay) and Ben Arnt (15.25) handed Blaze a two-goal lead. 
Max Parent pulled a goal back for Panthers on the powerplay just 63 seconds into the middle session but Blaze, with goaltender Brian Stewart making 41 saves, closed out the game.
It was an eighth win in nine Elite League matches for Blaze, who are now level on points with sixth-placed Fife Flyers.
Coach Chuck Weber said: “It was a great effort from the boys and we did a lot of good things.
“[Craig] Kowalski made a number of big saves but we are finding ways to win these close games, the boys are enjoying playing with a one-goal lead.
“We are 8-0-1 in the last nine games which is an incredible achievement and the boys deserve great credit for that.”
Blaze will monitor the fitness of DaCosta and Goertzen ahead of the Challenge Cup semi-final second leg at Cardiff Devils on Wednesday, trailing 4-1 from the first leg.
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