COVENTRY Blaze saw their season come to an end following a 6-2 play-off quarter-final defeat against Cardiff Devils in the Elite League.
Blaze suffered a 2-1 home defeat against Cardiff at the Skydome Arena in the first leg of their play-off quarter-final clash.
And Coventry then lost 4-1 at the Vindico Arena in the second leg to suffer a 6-2 aggregate defeat as the club’s season came to an end.
Blaze finished five places below the Devils in the Elite League standings with the latter side runners-up to champions Belfast Giants.
Coventry remained in the play-off clash following a narrow first leg defeat as defenceman Colton Saucerman returned to the side.
And Blaze broke the deadlock at 14.40 when Jere Vertanen kept the puck alive in the offensive zone and Grayson Constable produced a clinical finish to put the home side ahead.
The Devils protested against the goal for offside only for the officials to wave away Cardiff’s appeals.
Blaze netminder Mat Robson made a couple of crucial saves from Riley Brandt towards the end of the first period before Coventry killed a penalty to take a narrow lead into the first intermission.
The home side spurned a glorious chance to double their lead early in the second period as Blaze failed to capitalise on a powerplay chance.
And Cardiff equalised at 24.45 when Evan Mosey joined the rush and found space to beat Robson to level the game.
The Devils completed the turnaround at 31.51 as Kristoff Kontos found the net after the visitors kept the puck alive behind the Coventry net.
Blaze killed a penalty late in the second period and kept the deficit at a single goal heading into the final frame.
Cardiff killed a Blaze penalty early in the third period and failed to make the most of a powerplay of their own at the death in a closely-contested affair.
However, Coventry could not overturn the deficit in the second leg as the Devils raced into a four-goal lead inside the first half-hour in Wales.
Blaze made a disastrous start as Kohen Olischefski put Cardiff ahead after just 39 seconds from Josh MacDonald’s precise pass.
The visitors looked to respond to the setback when Jordan Power went close while Robson made a stretch save at the other end to deny Brandt once again.
Cardiff carried a one-goal lead into the second period after Tyson Helgesen hit the bar for the home side.
However, the Devils took control of the quarter-final tie when MacDonald forced home a loose puck at 25.23 on the powerplay.
Cardiff struck again on the powerplay at 29.18 as Joey Martin put the Devils into a three-goal cushion.
And Brandt scored a fourth goal for the Devils just 21 seconds later to all but end the game as a contest.
Coventry scored a consolation goal in the third period at 50.25 through William Boysen as Constable and Elijiah Barriga saw late chances go begging.
