Coventry Blaze stunned a sold-out Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, coming back from 4-1 down to beat the Panthers 5-4 on New Year’s Eve.
“Very frustrating for us” began Panthers captain Matt Alfaro. “I thought we controlled most of the game but after we went up 4-1 I thought we sat back and they kept pushing. They competed hard, we slowly let it clip and can only blame ourselves.”
The only goal of the opening period came inside its final minute. Alessio Luciani backhanded the puck into the net with Kevin Carr stranded. The goal was initially washed out for goaltender interference, but after a coach’s challenge from Kevin Moore, the officials overturned the call and awarded the goal after review.
Excellent hands from Matt Spencer levelled the game for Nottingham 6:34 into the second period, and Carr produced a superb stop off the shaft of his stick shortly after to prevent Coventry retaking the lead.
Three Panthers goals in just 25 seconds seemed to take the game away from the visitors. Zsombor Garát fired home, David Noël blasted in a one-timer, and Matt Marcinew buried a rebound to put Nottingham 4–1 up by 36:32.
“We’ve had some games where we’ve scored goals in quick succession in the past, and we’ve come out on top. I thought we should have used that as momentum but we just sat back” added Alfaro.
Just 26 seconds later, Matthew Gleason hit back with a finish high over Carr’s shoulder to get the Blaze back to within two before the second intermission.
“Things got a little away from us for a minute or so there when we went down to three quick ones,” admitted Blaze captain Mike Pelech. “Other than that, Mat Robson made some huge saves, we had contributions throughout the lineup, and for 55 minutes of that game I thought we played really well.”
Coventry tied the game with two goals in under a minute in the third period. Grant Mismash pulled them back to within one on the power play at 51:45, before Pelech tipped David Clements’ shot past Carr 47 seconds later to make it 4–4.
Elijiah Barriga struck the post early in the final period as Coventry hit the iron for the third time in the game, while Tim Doherty had a great late chance for Nottingham but was denied by Robson.
With 28.3 seconds remaining, Pelech redirected Gleason’s shot low past Carr to complete the comeback and seal a remarkable Blaze win.
“I think we have a group that just doesn’t give up,” added Pelech. “We were down by two heading into the third period, but everyone believed. Overall I thought we were pretty responsible defensively other than that wild minute, and we got a lot of good pucks to their net with bodies in front.”
Photo: Panthers Images
You must be logged in to post a comment.