Russell Cowley scored a dramatic winner with just three seconds remaining as Genting Casino Coventry Blaze ensured a four-point weekend by beating Belfast Giants 3-2 at the Skydome.
Blaze, who overcame Giants by the same scoreline on Saturday night, drafted Derek Lee and Jereme Tendler back into the line-up with Ryan O’Marra and Vladimir Nikiforov absent. 
Jakub Sindel got the go-ahead goal for Blaze after just 101 seconds only for Colin Shields to level at 5.29.
Robby Sandrock then gave Giants the lead on the powerplay at 12.28 before Lee marked his return with a goal to tie it up at 2-2 at 14.33.
Nathan Robinson had a chance to put Giants back in front but missed his penalty shot at 27.49. The game then seemed destined for overtime until Cowley struck his seventh goal of the season at the death.
Coach Chuck Weber said: “It was a dramatic win. We saw them score in the last few seconds in their building and Sheffield scored against us with three seconds to go so I could not be happier.
“We are getting comfortable now with these close games, we are doing things right, we are sticking to it and we are getting rewarded. We all thought it was going to overtime and I don’t think there was anyone without a smile at the end.
“With O’Marra and Nikiforov out, it allowed us to use different guys in the line-up and I have to thank Andy [Buxton], Mike {Cowley] and James [Pease] for allowing us to carry the extra imports and to use them when we are battling injuries and sickness.
“We have dug ourselves a hole but we have put a good run together and it is a big four-point weekend. Our practices are not fun, we work them hard and they are starting to reap some benefit.”
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