COVENTRY Blaze ended pre-season with a win against Guildford Flames following defeat against Nottingham Panthers.
Blaze battled to a 3-2 victory against Guildford at the Skydome Arena to end their pre-season campaign with a victory.
However, Coventry lost 4-1 against the Panthers at Motorpoint Arena – the club’s only pre-season defeat.
Goals from William Boysen, Kim Tallberg and Grant Mismash helped Coventry end their pre-season schedule on a high on home ice.
Blaze broke the deadlock at 3.41 when he drove down the wing and fired through the legs of Guildford netminder Taz Burman.
And Coventry doubled their lead at 8.29 while short-handed as returning captain Tallberg finished off Mike Pelech’s turnover.
Guildford halved the deficit just 17 seconds later at 8.46 as Marcus Tesnik blasted home from the blue line on the powerplay.
A string of fine saves from Blaze netminder Dershahn Stewart kept the home side in front at the start of the second period.
And Blaze restored their two-goal lead against the run of play at 24.03 as Boysen and Jack Hopkins combined to tee up Mismash for a simple finish at the back post.
Guildford responded at 42.07 when Tyler Preziuso tipped Sean Comrie’s effort into the net.
That came after Blaze suffered defeat against Elite League rivals Nottingham.
Nottingham took the lead at 3.55 as Matt Marinew opened the scoring with the help of Tim Doherty and Chase Pearson.
However, Blaze equalised at 15.09 when former Panther Archie Hazeldine picked out Alessio Luciani with a clever slap-pass and the latter produced a clinical finish.
The Panthers reclaimed the lead at 34.13 as David Noel fired home from Ross Armour’s drop-pass.
And Nottingham struck again at 38.53 when Zsombor Garat rifled a shot past Blaze netminder Mat Robson.
The Panthers completed the scoring at 56.41 as Ollie Betteridge picked up the puck off the boards and drove a shot into the net.
Coventry begin the competitive season with a Challenge Cup double header against Manchester Storm.
Blaze travel to Planet Ice Altrincham to face Storm in their season-opener on Saturday, September 13 with the face-off at 7pm.
Coventry then host Manchester at the Skydome on Sunday, September 14 with the face-off at 5.30pm.
