The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze endured a pre-Christmas nightmare on home ice, falling 1-5 to the Manchester Storm in Elite League action.
Blaze were boosted by the return of defensive pair Mike Kennedy and Jakob Stridsberg, who had missed the midweek trip to Belfast. However, in their final home game before Christmas, the festive spirit didn’t extend to the scoreboard.
Coventry were handed an early opportunity to seize the lead when Jake Durflinger was sent to the penalty box for slashing just 32 seconds into the game. Although the resulting powerplay generated momentum, Blaze couldn’t find a way past an inspired Evan Weninger in the Manchester net.
The Storm weathered Coventry’s early pressure and used a powerplay of their own to gain a foothold in the game. While unable to convert, it set the stage for their dominance. The opening goal came at 10.41 when C.J. Garcia found the net with a composed finish, assisted by Stephen Johnson and Durflinger.
As the first period wound down, Blaze’s returning defenceman Kennedy was penalised for roughing. Coventry successfully killed the penalty and came out firing in the second period, hitting the post early in their search for an equaliser.
The Blaze rattled Weninger’s posts twice more before finally breaking through on a powerplay. With Johnson serving a double minor for high sticking, Nick Seitz capitalised at 33.23, finishing off Brandon Alderson’s precise cross-ice pass.
However, the momentum shifted once more just before the intermission. At 38.18, Loren Ulett found time and space to beat Mat Robson, restoring Manchester’s lead with a crucial sucker punch.
The Storm surged ahead further early in the third period. At 41.08, Ryan Hughes set up Alexis D’Aoust in the slot, and the forward fired a clinical one-timer past Robson for a 1-3 advantage.
Coventry’s woes deepened at 47.01 when a two-on-one break resulted in Ryan Hughes converting from Grant Hebert’s assist, extending the score-line to 1-4.
Blaze had a chance to claw their way back at 48.54 when Ulett was called for interference, but they failed to capitalise on the powerplay.
Even with a shorthanded chance, Alessio Luciani couldn’t beat the imperious Weninger on a one-on-one opportunity.
The frustration was palpable, and things unravelled further for Coventry late in the game.
Stridsberg’s penalty handed the Storm a 5-on-3 advantage, which Ulett used to score his second goal of the night at 53.47, sealing a comprehensive road win for Manchester.
Photo credit: Scott Wiggins