COVENTRY Blaze maintained their blistering start to the Elite League season with a 6-1 thrashing of Nottingham Panthers to move top of the table.
Blaze recorded a third successive win against the Panthers as Marly Quince scored twice with Colton Yellow Horn, Jack Billings, Mitch Cook and Peyton Frantti all on target at the Motorpoint Arena.
The result means Blaze now lead the Elite League standings having won all three of their matches this season.
And Yellow Horn started the rout at 4.31 with the first of Blaze’s three powerplay goals on the night as he slotted home from Billings’ initial shot.
Blaze doubled their lead at 11.15 when Quince scored the first of his two goals before Billings made it three at 18.29 to put Coventry in command.
And Blaze scored their second powerplay goal through Cook at 25.03 before Quince doubled his tally for the night at 31.10 and Frantti made it six at 36.42 despite Panthers changing their netminder.
Coventry keeper Paavo Holsa made 23 saves in a man of the match display only to be denied a shut out at 57.35 when Mike Hammond converted a penalty shot.
And Blaze maintained their perfect start to the campaign with a 4-1 home win against Cardiff Devils in the Challenge Cup at the Skydome Arena.
The Devils took an early lead through Marcus Crawford who beat a screened Holsa in the Blaze goal with a long-range effort at 3.58.
Blaze hit back through Radek Vesely at 13.09 with a clever shot that beat Great Britain International Ben Bowns.
And Coventry completed the turnaround on 16 minutes when Frantti scored his second goal of the weekend assisted by Ross Venus.
The game was made safe at 33.51 when Billings extended Coventry’s lead as the Devils piled on the pressure in the final pressure.
However, Holsa stood up to everything Cardiff threw at him as he made 20 saves on the night before Tanner Lishchynsky scored from his own end at 59.40 after the Devils pulled their goalie for an extra skater in the final minute.
Blaze Head Coach Danny Stewart said: “I’m delighted that we found a way to get off to a good start in the cup, and we have had a great start in the league too.
“Playing better team defence has allowed us to play with the puck more and everyone is contributing.
“We’ve had two weekends with four points but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.
“We’ll get rested up and get back to work this week for Guildford on Saturday (Challenge Cup away) and Fife on Sunday (Elite League at home).”
Coventry are next in action away at Guildford Flames on Saturday, September 24 in the Challenge Cup with the face-off at 6pm at Guildford Spectrum.
And Blaze resume their league campaign at home to Fife Flyers on Sunday, September 25 with the face-off at 5.30pm at the Skydome Arena.
