COVENTRY Blaze romped to an impressive 6-0 win against Cardiff Devils before slipping to a 4-1 defeat at title-chasing Sheffield Steelers.
Blaze were rampant in victory against Cardiff as Marly Quince, JD Dudek, Colton Yellow Horn, Kim Tallberg, Tanner Lishchynsky and Nathan Ripley all found the net at the Skydome Arena.
However, Coventry came unstuck at Utilita Arena Sheffield despite Peyton Frantti’s goal in the third period as Blaze suffered a fourth successive defeat on the road.
The results mean Blaze remain fifth in the Elite League standings.
Coventry welcomed captain Nathanael Halbert back into the side for the first time since December against the Devils and scored after just 22 seconds through Quince.
The home side doubled their lead at 5.09 when Dudek took advantage of a fortunate bounce to beat Devils’ goalkeeper Taran Kozun.
And Blaze netmidner Paavo Holsa helped kill four Cardiff penalties in the second period before Yellow Horn extended Coventry’s lead at 43.36 to all but seal the win.
Tallberg added Blaze’s fourth goal of the night at 54.24 on the powerplay before defenceman Lishchynsky struck at 58.07 and Ripley at 58.38 after Cardiff pulled Kozun for an extra skater.
However, Blaze were unable to back up that success in Sheffield the following night despite Holsa’s heroics in keeping the game scoreless at the end of the first period.
Steelers eventually made the breakthrough at 29.44 through Martin Latal before Brett Neumann doubled their lead at 38.38 on the powerplay.
Blaze halved the deficit when Frantti scored from close range at 51.26 only for Steelers to respond with two quickfire goals as Brandon McNally netted at 53.22 and Latal grabbed his second of the night at 55.24 to complete the scoring.
Coventry are next in action at home to Manchester Storm on Wednesday, February 15 with the face-off at 7.30pm at the Skydome Arena.
