The DPD Coventry Blaze were narrowly beaten 4-3 by the Nottingham Panthers
The DPD Coventry Blaze were narrowly beaten 4-3 by the Nottingham Panthers in a thrilling Challenge Cup encounter at the Motorpoint Arena on Saturday. Both teams were unchanged from their previous fixtures, with Sisu Heikkeri getting the start in net for Coventry and former Blaze goaltender Mat Robson between the pipes for Nottingham.
The Blaze started brightly but were indebted to Heikkeri for the first big save of the night, as he denied Brandon Frattaroli after the Panthers forward had broken through on goal.
At the other end, Robson was called upon to make an important stop of his own, turning away an effort from Colby MacArthur. Coventry continued to apply pressure and were rewarded on the powerplay at 13:30, with Artem Buzoverya continuing his hot start to the season by firing the Blaze into the lead.
The Panthers responded before the end of the opening period, levelling at 17:16 through Darick Louis-Jean. Jordan Kelsall cut inside from the right boards before finding Louis-Jean in the slot, and the forward made no mistake.
The second period produced four goals as the game really burst into life.
Nottingham regained the lead at 28:59 when Joe Hazeldine found the net with a neat finish after jumping into the play and charging unopposed towards goal. The Blaze hit back almost immediately, levelling just 31 seconds later. Brett Perlini fired home from the right circle at 29:30, with Jaxson Ezman picking up his second assist of the night.
The intensity then boiled over as Louis-Jean and Andrew Nielsen dropped the gloves at centre ice, adding the first fight of the night to an increasingly physical contest.
Coventry regained the advantage at 34:23 when Griffin Ness found space and finished expertly to make it 2-3. The Panthers hit back once again, with Hazeldine and Matt Alfaro combining brilliantly to open up the Blaze defence. Ben Corbeil drove to the back door and finished the move at 38:18 to restore parity.
With the game tied at 3-3 heading into the final period, everything was still to play for.
The physical nature of the contest continued early in the third, as Aiden Hansen-Bukata and Connor Russell dropped the gloves following an incident in which Russell shot the puck at net after the official had blown the whistle.
Nottingham eventually found the breakthrough on another powerplay at 51:43.
Chase Pearson's wraparound attempt was kept out by Heikkeri, but Zach O'Brien was perfectly placed to collect the rebound and fire home to give the Panthers the lead for a third time.
The Blaze pushed hard in the closing stages and pulled their Finnish goalie for the extra skater in search of a late equaliser. But, despite sustained pressure, Nottingham held firm to claim a 4-3 victory and the two Challenge Cup points.