COVENTRY Blaze kept their Challenge Cup semi-final hopes with victory against Manchester Storm after beating Guildford Flames to move second in the Elite League table.
Blaze beat the Storm 6-4 at the Skydome Arena following a 4-3 victory against the Flames at Guildford Spectrum.
The results mean Coventry have now won their last six games in all competitions.
Against Manchester, both Grayson Constable and Noah Carroll were assessed two-minute penalties for cross checking and high sticking respectively just 13 seconds into the match.
Blaze opened the scoring at 1.15 when Chase Gresock took advantage of a Storm turnover. Home supporters celebrated with the traditional ‘Air the Bear’ event with soft toys thrown onto the ice in support of Hits Radio’s Cash for Kids Mission Christmas.
Manchester drew level at 4.14 as Loren Ulett scored on the powerplay only for Gresock to restore Blaze’s lead at 6.28 with his second goal of the match.
A flurry of goals in the second period turned the game on its head as Grant Hebert levelled for Storm at 22.46.
And Joe Morrow completed the turnaround at 24.07 before Craig Martin found the net at 26.13 to leave Blaze stunned.
However, Coventry swiftly reduced the deficit at 27.41 when Zach Heintz finished on the powerplay.
And the home side equalised at 32.33 in the third period as Mike Regush found the net.
Blaze eventually reclaimed the lead at 34.05 as Heintz scored his second of the game.
Storm lost their discipline in the closing stages with Cameron Critchlow penalised for a head-butting infraction and Ryan Hughes for roughing.
And Blaze completed the scoring at 48.07 as Jackson Cressey finished from close range on the powerplay.
That came after Alessio Luciani’s brace helped Coventry to an impressive win at Guildford in the Elite League as Blaze moved up to second in the standings.
Guildford broke the deadlock at 3.50 as Jake Jacome fired a one-timer past Coventry netminder Mat Robson on the powerplay.
However, Blaze drew level just nine seconds later when Luciani converted Nick Seitz’s feed
And Luciani completed the turnaround at 24.06 in the second period when his deflected effort beat Eamon McAdam in the Guildford net.
The visitors extended their lead at 36.32 when Constable capitalised to score on a breakaway following a Flames turnover.
Guildford responded as Lewis Hook pounced on a loose puck to score at 38.31 late in the second period.
Blaze restored their two-goal cushion at 48.35 when Brandon Alderson fired a hunderous slapshot into the net on the powerplay.
Flames pulled netminder McAdam with just over three minutes remaining and scored with 23 seconds left to play as Sam Jones netted from a six-on-four powerplay opportunity.
However, Blaze saw out the remaining seconds to seal a fine win on the road.
Coventry are next in action against Sheffield Steelers on Saturday, December 7 with the face-off at 7pm at Utilita Arena.
Blaze then Belfast Giants on Sunday, December 8 at the Skydome with the face-off at 5.30pm at the Skydome.
