Coventry Blaze picked up their first win of the season in Belfast, and their second overall in three meetings, with an overtime victory against the Giants at the SSE Arena.
“I thought it was a great win,” said Blaze’s Matthew Gleason. “Overall it was a team win. We got off to a two-goal lead early after some great plays in the first from a lot of guys. Belfast are a great team and it’s a tough place to play, and they had their push. It was about managing that, then they scored the late goal. We had to battle adversity in overtime to get the win.”
The Blaze claimed a deserved opener just over eight minutes into the game after early pressure was rewarded. An excellent one two between Grayson Constable and Jere Vertanen resulted in Vertanen finishing into an empty net at 08:19.
Coventry doubled their lead less than two minutes later through former Giant Elijah Barriga. Another one two, this time between Jack Hopkins and Barriga, again left an empty net tap in for Coventry at 09:53.
The Blaze were unable to capitalise on either of their powerplays but still carried a two goal cushion into the first intermission.
Six minutes into the second period, Coventry had the chance to extend their lead on the powerplay. Instead it was Belfast who struck shorthanded. Mike Lee carried the puck from his own defensive zone into the Giants offensive zone and fired a superb shot from the left circle to pull the Giants back within one at 28:18.
Both teams had further powerplay opportunities but were unable to convert, leaving Coventry with a one goal advantage at the end of the second period.
Belfast controlled much of the possession in the third period but struggled to generate many high quality chances in front of Mat Robson.
At the other end, following a scramble around Jackson Whistle’s net where the puck remained uncovered, Coventry worked the puck back to Colton Saucerman at the blue line. His shot was rebounded by Gleason with just under six minutes remaining to restore the Blaze’s two goal lead.
The Giants responded with 3:21 left on the clock when a Ryan Smith point shot was tipped past Robson by Brandon Whistle to make it a one goal game once again.
Whistle went to the bench for the extra skater with two minutes remaining. With 1:19 left, a Giants shot came back off the crossbar and dropped loose in the crease. The play was reviewed and the goal was awarded, sending the game to overtime.
Coventry needed just 40 seconds to secure the win in overtime as Jordan Power took a feed from Grant Mismash and fired past Whistle to earn the Blaze the extra point.
“I think it says a lot about the group and what we’ve been through this year,” Gleason continued. “One of the big things we’ve focused on is that the season is a rollercoaster. There are going to be highs and lows, and the biggest thing is taking care of business and doing your job. Last time we were here something similar happened and they got the win in the shootout, but that was a great play from Mismash in overtime to find Power, and just an absolute rip to finish it.”
Photo: William Cherry
