COVENTRY Blaze ended their six-game losing run in the Elite League with a 3-1 victory away at high-flying Sheffield Steelers.
Blaze exacted revenge on the Steelers following defeat against the same opponents on home ice the previous weekend.
Goals from Colton Saucerman, Elijiah Barriga and Matthew Gleason earned Blaze a much-needed victory at the Utilita Arena.
However, Coventry then suffered a 4-3 defeat against Guildford Flames at the Skydome Arena as the visitors staged a third-period comeback.
The results mean Blaze sit eighth in the Elite League table.
Coventry took to the ice against title challengers Sheffield boosted by the return of defenceman Connor Russell.
Blaze dominated the opening exchanges as Steelers netminder Matt Greenfield kept the visitors at bay despite sustained pressure from Coventry.
Both teams also spurned powerplay opportunities with neither team able to break the deadlock in a goalless first period.
A physical affair ensued in the second period as Blaze forward Alessio Luciani and Sheffield’s Joona Huttula both received two-minute penalties early in the frame.
Former Sheffield blue-liner Saucerman eventually opened the scoring for Blaze at 26.23 when he finished on the rebound after good work from Adam Robbins and Grant Mismash.
However, the Steelers drew level just 31 seconds later as Mikko Juusola drove out wide and cut to the net before finishing smartly past Mat Robson.
A fiery affair became livelier in the third period as Blaze’s Jere Vertanen and Sheffield captain Robert Dowd dropped the gloves in the game’s most notable flashpoint.
Coventry reclaimed the lead at 50.58 when Barriga beat Greenfield with a quick wrist shot as Robbins provided another assist.
Sheffield piled on the pressure in the closing stages as Robson produced 48 saves throughout the game to keep Coventry’s lead intact.
The home side pulled Greenfield for an extra skater in the final two minutes only for Blaze to seal the points at 59.46 when Gleason finished into an empty net with 14 seconds left to play.
However, Coventry surrendered an early two-goal lead in defeat against Guildford on home ice as the visitors stunned Blaze with a late comeback.
Kevin Moore’s side made a blistering start and took the lead at 5.10 when William Boysen finished off a well-worked passing move which involved Vertanen and Gleason.
And Blaze doubled their lead at 6.59 as defenceman Ivan Chukarov caused chaos in the Guildford zone and saw his effort evade Justin Fazio in the Flames net to score his first goal for the club.
Guildford responded just 51 seconds into the second period when Jack Jacome converted on a three-on-zero break.
Coventry restored their two-goal lead at 22.28 as Vertanen’s backhand finish on the powerplay put the home side in command.
The Flames squandered two powerplay opportunities late in the second period only to flip the game on its head with three unanswered goals in the third period.
Jacome grabbed his second of the game at 41.07 as he chopped at the puck with his back to the net and somehow beat Robson in the Blaze goal.
And Guildford drew level at 53.52 when Mathieu Gosselin finished on the rebound after Cole Ully’s initial effort bounce off the backboards and into the scorer’s path.
Flames completed a remarkable turnaround at 58.43 as Ully scrambled the puck into the net with the goal awarded following a lengthy discussion between the officials and the Blaze bench.
Blaze pulled Robson for an extra skater in the final minute but could not find an equaliser to suffer a fourth straight home defeat.
Coventry are next in action against Fife Flyers on Saturday, December 13 with the face-off at 7pm at Fife Ice Arena.
Blaze then host Manchester Storm on Sunday, December 14 with the face-off at 5.30pm at the Skydome.
