Coventry Blaze earned a shootout win in Guildford, coming out on top after the sides split two goals through 65 minutes.
Both teams brought plenty of energy from the opening puck drop, with Guildford shading the early chances. Jack Jacome intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and set up Nick Seitz for the first clear look of the night, but Matt Robson turned it aside.
Coventry struck first moments after killing a Flames power play. Sharp passing between Sam Ruffin, Archie Hazeldine and Grant Mismash opened up the Flames defence, allowing Mismash to beat Jake Kupsky with a one-timer.
“It is always a big thing to get the first goal. It was a big goal from Mismash and we could keep it going from there,” said Jere Vertanen.
The Blaze pushed for a second late in the period, but Kupsky kept the deficit at one. Guildford responded with another spell on the power play, only for Robson to produce several excellent saves to preserve Coventry’s lead.
Early in the second, the Flames struck the post as they continued to build pressure. Their persistence paid off late in the frame when Robson spilled a rebound and Seitz reacted quickest to sweep the puck home, tying the game heading into the final period.
“I thought we played a really good brand of hockey all night,” said Guildford’s Jake Kupsky. “I think we outplayed them and their goalie played extremely well. We got pucks and bodies on net the whole game. Seitz got himself into a great position for his goal.”
There were no goals in the third, sending the game to overtime. The main talking point of the extra period came when Matt Alvaro was ejected for cross-checking Anthony Luciani with 1:54 remaining. Neither side found a winner, and in the shootout Vertanen scored in sudden death to seal the win for Coventry.
“I was so tired and just wanted to get the goal for the team,” admitted Vertanen. “It is always nice to have the game on your stick and make the move to win it.”
Photo: John Uwins
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