Coventry Blaze made it a four-point weekend and moved to within three points of sixth place with a 5-4 win over Cardiff Devils at the Skydome.
“I thought we got off to a great start, four goals in the first period,” began Blaze’s Grant Mismash, who assisted on all four of the home side’s goals in the opening frame. “We were all hunting the puck and their defencemen, and everyone was on the same page.
“I was getting great passes and then the puck’s got to go in the net, everyone was connecting.”
The game started with intensity at both ends, and tempers flared early as Colton Saucerman and Brett Ferguson dropped the gloves behind the Coventry net.
The Blaze took control in the opening period. Grayson Constable opened the scoring midway through the frame, finishing a backdoor chance from Mismash. Coventry then struck twice on the powerplay through Mike Pelech, both from Mismash assists, before Jordan Power added a fourth to give the hosts a commanding lead.
“Tough start for us there, giving up four in the first period,” admitted Devils’ Brett Perlini. “From there on in it was always going to be a tough task, but I liked our attitude to bring it back and make a game out of it.”
Cardiff responded in the second period, with Perlini getting them on the board before Josh MacDonald added a second to cut the deficit to two heading into the final period.
“We just put our heads down and got to work there in the second period, didn’t try to force anything and got back to our game,” added Perlini. “We got confidence from the first couple of goals and were able to make a late push.”
The Devils continued their push in the third, with Perlini scoring again to make it a one-goal game and set up a tense finish.
“They made a comeback and that’s just how hockey is,” added Mismash. “We had timely blocks, Robson made some good saves, stuck with it and got a good win.”
Cardiff pressed late with Ben Bowns pulled for the extra skater, and Coventry thought they had sealed the win late on, only to be denied by the post. However, a turnover allowed Colton Saucerman to score with 20 seconds remaining, completing a Gordie Howe hat trick.
Brandon Estes pulled one back with five seconds left, but the Blaze held on to secure the win.
Photo: Scott Wiggins
