COVENTRY Blaze ended 2025 with a 5-4 victory but started 2026 with a 4-3 overtime defeat in two close games against Nottingham Panthers.
Blaze staged a late comeback to beat Nottingham at the Motorpoint Arena in a thrilling contest as Mike Pelech scored a dramatic late winner.
However, Coventry then suffered defeat in overtime against the Panthers on New Year’s Day at the Skydome Arena with six of the game’s seven goals coming on the powerplay.
The result mean Blaze sit eighth in the Elite League table.
Blaze ended a run of three straight defeats against the Panthers on New Year’s Eve as Alessio Luciani put the visitors ahead at 19.17 with a back-hand finish with the goal allowed to stand following a video review.
However, the Panthers stunned Coventry in the second period with three goals in the space of 27 seconds after Matt Spencer drew the home side level at 26.34 after he stole possession and finished expertly past Mat Robson.
Nottingham took the lead at 36.05 when Zsombor Garat blasted home from the blue line.
And the home side struck again 11 seconds later as David Noel fired another long range effort past Robson.
The Panthers blitzed Blaze with another goal at 36.32 when Matthew Marcinew found the net to leave Coventry facing a three-goal deficit.
Blaze responded just 26 seconds later as Matthew Gleason finished from close range to keep the visitors in the contest.
And Coventry closed the gap to a single goal on the powerplay at 51.45 when Grant Mismash struck with Blaze now firmly in the ascendancy,
Blaze restored parity at 52.32 as Pelech profited following good work from William Boysen and David Clements.
And Coventry completed a dramatic late turnaround with 29 seconds left to play as Pelech redirected Gleason’s shot into the net to stun the home side.
However, Blaze could only come away from their New Year’s Day fixture against the same opponents with a point.
Coventry broke the deadlock at 16.48 when Mismash fired past Jason Grande after Sam Ruffin took control of a Panthers turnover.
However, Nottingham drew level at 33.07 on the powerplay as Matt Alfaro found the net.
And the visitors claimed the lead at 37.26 with another powerplay goal when Chase Pearson turned home a rebounded Marcinew effort.
Blaze rallied in the third period as Jere Vertanen equalised at 46.22 with a powerplay goal from Gleason’s drop pass.
And Coventry reclaimed the lead at 49.55 with a second powerplay goal as Luciani forced the puck past Grande.
However, Nottingham restored parity at 51.37 as Marcinew scored from close range on the powerplay to take the game to overtime.
And the Panthers scored a fourth powerplay goal in the extra period at 64.19 when Noel struck to lift Nottingham to the top of the table.
Coventry are next in action against Glasgow Clan on Saturday, January 3 with the face-off at 7pm at Braehead Arena.
Blaze then host Belfast Giants on Sunday, January 4 with the face-off at 5.30pm at the Skydome.
