THREE goals for the in-form Belfast Giants put pay to any Blaze hopes of a four-point-weekend as the Northern Irish outfit took all the points from Sunday night’s game.
Having won 7-4 in Glasgow against the Braehead Clan on Saturday night, with the help of two shorthanded goals from star forward Liam Stewart, the Blaze struggled to find similar success in Coventry on Sunday night in front of a vocal home crowd.
Without Russ Cowley and Marc Cantin, Blaze were left to rue several missed chances in the second period as Belfast netminder Stephen Murphy shut-out the home side.
Scoring opportunities were restricted in the opening period as both sides struggled to put pucks on net, though Blaze came out with much more intent in the second period – though even then Danny Stewart’s men failed to light the lamp.
Despite the prolonged period of offensive pressure, it was Belfast who made the break through at 36.16 as Chris Higgins pulled a move which beat Brian Stewart to put the Giants ahead.
Steve Saviano then doubled the away side’s lead at 47.56 before a concluding marker from Higgins ended any Blaze hopes of picking up any Elite League points on home ice.
A temporary stoppage in play occurred at 58.15 as fans threw hundreds of teddy bears onto the ice to donate unwanted items to the British Heart Foundation – however this was the last of the main action of the game as Belfast played out the final two minutes.
Though Blaze lost, the past six games have marked a turning point for Danny Stewart’s side as they’ve secured nine points from the last 12 available.
Head coach Danny Stewart said: “Anytime you don’t score at home it’s frustrating, but I can’t fault the effort.
“The first period was probably a non-event, the first ten of second they put pressure on us, the second ten, we were all over them but we couldn’t get one.
“It was one of those nights where whoever got the first was probably going to see it though and win.
“They obviously got that second one and it was a tough up-hill battle from there.
“We possibly tired in the third, we went with five guys at the back all weekend, four for the most part last night, and then we had the long trip.
“We’re not making excuses but they had that little extra step than we had in the third.”
Blaze now face a busy, and crucial, Christmas period – starting with a double header against the Sheffield Steelers.
They played away in the steel city last night (Wednesday), before facing the Steelers on home ice tonight (Thursday), face-off at 7.30pm.
