COVENTRY Blaze ended a run of four successive Elite League defeats with victories against Manchester Storm and Glasgow Clan respectively.
Blaze claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Manchester at Planet Ice Altrincham and then beat Glasgow 4-1 on home ice at the Skydome Arena.
The results mean Coventry sit seventh in the Elite League table, just four points behind play-off rivals Manchester in fourth.
Blaze started the weekend with a narrow win against Storm to close the gap to Manchester in the standings.
Neither side could break the deadlock in a goalless first period before Grayson Constable put Blaze ahead at 22.53 after he elected to shoot following a breakaway with Grant Mismash.
And Alessio Luciani then broke through moments later only for Storm netminder Drew DeRidder to make a crucial stop.
Both teams spurned powerplay opportunities with the sides separated by a single goal heading into the third period.
However, Blaze doubled their lead at 44.34 when Matthew Gleason found space at the point on the powerplay to step into the slot and fire a glove-side shot past DeRidder.
Manchester responded at 47.37 as Harrison Caines aced in on a breakaway and slipped the puck through Mat Robson’s five-hole.
Blaze killed an extended five-on-three penalty later in the third period before Loren Ulett scrambled the puck over the line for the home side.
However, Blaze head coach Kevin Moore issued a coach’s challenge with the goal ruled out after review after Ulett pushed Robson’s pad out of the way before turning the puck home.
Manchester pulled DeRidder for the extra skater in the final minute but Blaze held firm as Robson made 34 saved to secure the points for Coventry.
Blaze then cruised to victory against Glasgow to celebrate a four-point weekend with successive victories.
Coventry handed a season debut to two-way forward Brynley Capps while Robson retained his place in goal.
The home side took the lead at 6.30 on the powerplay as Mismash fired in his 19th goal of the season.
Blaze then withstood an extended five-on-three penalty period after both William Boysen and Mike Pelech were penalised just 44 seconds apart.
Coventry thought they had doubled their lead soon after only for Mike Pelech to see his effort ruled out for a high stick.
However, Pelech eventually troubled the scoreboard at 29.12 when he found the net from passes by Elijiah Barriga and Colton Saucerman.
And Capps marked his first appearance of the season with his first professional goal at 48.54 in a dream moment for the teenager.
Blaze extended their lead on the powerplay at 51.42 as Saucerman fired home on the man advantage.
Barriga looked certain to score soon after only for but Liam Souliere to produce a stunning glove save with the net open.
And Glasgow scored a consolation goal at 54.41 as Robert Lachowicz struck to reduce the deficit.
Coventry play Nottingham Panthers in the Challenge Cup final on Wednesday, March 18 with the face-off at 7.30pm at Motorpoint Arena.
