COVENTRY Blaze suffered a pair of narrow defeats in their opening games in the Challenge Cup against Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers respectively.
Blaze lost 3-2 against the Panthers at the Motorpoint Arena before losing 5-4 at home to the Steelers on penalty shots at the Skydome Arena.
Coventry made a losing start to their Challenge Cup campaign against the Panthers – now coached by former Blaze boss Danny Stewart.
The Panthers took the lead at 2.12 when Tim Doherty found the net before Matt Alfaro doubled Nottingham’s lead on the powerplay at 15.42 as he slipped the puck through the legs of Blaze netminder Mat Robson.
Blaze failed to reduce the deficit in a scoreless second period despite having three powerplay opportunities as Panthers netminder Ryan Bednard kept the visitors at bay.
The away side’s pressure eventually paid off at 41.12 as Alessio Luciani finally beat Bednard on the powerplay.
Coventry kept themselves in the game at 47.23 as Blaze somehow managed to kill a five-on-three penalty, after receiving two minor penalties.
However, Nottingham struck again at 52.26 to stretch their lead as Alfaro scored his second goal of the game.
Blaze set up a grandstand finish when Chase Gresock found the net at 58.49 after pulling Robson for an extra skater.
A late penalty ended Blaze’s hopes of pulling of a comeback as the Panthers held on to secure the points.
The following night, Blaze staged a dramatic comeback to take defending champions Sheffield Steelers to a penalty shootout in which the home side just came up short.
Blaze made a disastrous start as Sheffield took the lead after just 14 seconds when a costly turnover allowed Daniel Leavens to open the scoring.
And the Steelers quickly stretched their advantage at 4.06 as Patrick Watling found the net on the powerplay.
The visitors raced into a three-goal lead at 11.07 when Daniel Ciampini beat Robson with a slick backhand finish from a tight angle with Blaze short-handed.
Coventry responded at 12.03 when Jackson Cressey converted Nick Seitz’ clever pass from behind the net on the powerplay.
And Blaze struck again at 33.15 in the second period as David Clements’ powerful drive proved too strong for Steelers netminder Matthew Greenfield.
However, momentum swung back in Sheffield’s favour when Blaze captain Kim Tallberg was ejected from the game for slashing earning him a five-plus game penalty.
And the Steelers capitalised almost immediately as Brandon Whistle scored from the ensuing powerplay at 35.35 to restore Sheffield’s two-goal cushion.
Coventry kept themselves in the game at 44.24 when Jakob Stridsberg finished well after good work from Cressey.
And Blaze found an equaliser at 58.15 as Grayson Constable levelled the game.
Just three seconds later, Sheffield’s Mark Simpson was given a five-plus game penalty for cross-checking.
However, Blaze were unable to make the most of the resulting powerplay and the extended man advantage as the game went to a shootout.
After Mitchell Balmas put the Steelers ahead, Mike Regush responded for Blaze only for Ciampini to score the decisive penalty for the visitors.
Blaze head coach, Kevin Moore, said: “It was back and forth, and certainly crazy and when you are playing the defending champs you have to bring it and make sure you make good plays at every moment and I felt we did that apart from the start.”
Coventry continue their Challenge Cup campaign at Guildford Flames on Saturday, September 28 with the face-off at 6pm at the Guildford Spectrum.
Blaze then host Nottingham on Sunday, September 29 with the face-off at 5.30pm at the Skydome.
