Blaze achieve 3-1 victory over the Manchester Storm in their home opener at Skydome Arena on Sunday.
The DPD Coventry Blaze made it two wins from two to begin the Motorpoint Elite League regular season with a 3-1 victory over the Manchester Storm in their home opener at Skydome Arena on Sunday.
Canadian Evan Fitzpatrick started in net for Coventry, while Evan Weninger got the call for Manchester.
The Blaze were awarded the first powerplay opportunity at 12:36 but were unable to capitalise. However, they used the resulting offensive momentum to open the scoring just over two minutes later.
Colby MacArthur made a nuisance of himself in front of the Manchester net, getting his stick to the ice to redirect Caron Musser’s slap-pass past Weninger at 15:14.
Coventry’s lead lasted just 36 seconds, however. From behind the net, Loren Ulett found Joseph Nardi, who finished neatly in tight to level the game at 15:50. The Blaze were then forced to kill off a double-minor penalty to defenceman Andrew Nielsen in the closing stages of the opening period, but Coventry’s penalty kill held firm to send the teams into the first intermission tied at 1-1.
The second period began in physical fashion, with Connor Russell and Brandon Cutler getting involved in an altercation behind the Blaze net just a minute into the frame.
Coventry regained the lead at 1:47 when Musser was denied by Weninger, but Griffin Ness was on hand to bury the rebound and make it 2-1. The rough stuff continued just past the halfway mark when Jaxson Ezman was penalised for unsportsmanlike conduct after shooting the puck following the whistle, sparking a melee.
Nick Grima was then called for slashing as the Blaze penalty kill was once again called upon to protect their narrow advantage heading into the third period. With both goaltenders and defences standing strong, chances were at a premium during the latter stages of the game. But with 5:43 remaining, the Blaze struck a crucial third goal.
Grima’s initial shot was blocked, but Andrew Nielsen’s floated effort found its way towards the net and was redirected past Weninger by newly appointed Assistant Captain Matthew Gleason, sending the home crowd into celebration.
Ness had a chance to make the result even more comfortable for Coventry with three minutes remaining, breaking away one-on-one, but Weninger stood tall to deny him.
The Storm netminder was called upon again just seconds later, making another excellent save to keep out Ryan Richardson on a second breakaway for the home side.
At the other end, Fitzpatrick continued his inspired performance. The Canadian made 39 saves, earning Man of the Match honours as the Blaze held on for a 3-1 victory.
The Blaze next travel to Scotland to take on the Fife Flyers in the Motorpoint Elite League on Wednesday before back-to-back league games against the Belfast Giants (7pm) and Dundee Stars (5.30pm) on Saturday and Sunday at Skydome Arena.