COVENTRY Blaze lost out in overtime in a 5-4 defeat away to Guildford Flames, but remain inside the Elite League play-offs after claiming a point.
With just one play-off place up for grabs after the weekend’s results, Blaze sit ahead of Manchester Storm – who they face off against next Saturday.
Blaze took the lead at the Spectrum through Luke Ferrara’s 1.58 strike, but were quickly overturned by Richard Krogh and Erik Lindhagen’s goals (9.44 and 13.28) at the first-period end.
Thom Flodqvist swept home an equaliser (21.10) before going ahead for a second time through Shawn Pauly (31.22) – who continues his hot streak of form.
Jamie Crooks levelled up at 3-3 (36.21) for the hosts, with Dillon Lawrence briskly restoring Blaze’s lead (37.04) going into the final period.
But with the solitary goal of the final 20 minutes going the way of Guildford, scored by John Dunbar (45.16), the game headed into sudden-death overtime.
A cross-checking penalty given to Nicolai Bryhnisveen left Blaze on the back foot, and it was not long before Jesse Craige put away the game winner in a four-on-three powerplay (62.10).
Head coach Danny Stewart believed his side deserved better, and for all the chances they created were good value to edge the game before the last-gasp winner by the Flames.
Blaze host Belfast Giants on Wednesday night (7:30pm) at the Skydome Arena, days before the potentially pivotal moment of Coventry’s season away to the Storm on Saturday (7pm) at Altrincham Ice Dome.
Coventry’s regular season ends on Sunday when hosting the Cardiff Devils (5:15pm), by which point Stewart’s charges may already know their fate.