COVENTRY Blaze saw their losing run stretch to six matches following defeats against Manchester Storm and Sheffield Steelers respectively.
Blaze suffered a 3-2 overtime defeat against Manchester at Planet Ice Altrincham as Coventry twice surrendered the lead.
And Coventry then lost 5-1 against league leaders Sheffield at the Skydome Arena on another difficult weekend for the club.
The results mean Blaze sit eighth in the Elite League standings.
A depleted Coventry claimed a point on the road in Manchester despite Blaze missing Mat Robson, Connor Russell, Grayson Constable and Artie Buzoverya.
Blaze almost broke the deadlock when Jere Vertanen rattled the crossbar before Blaze goalie Dershahn Stewart produced a sharp stop at the other end to deny Storm on a two-on-one breakaway.
Coventry scored the game’s opening goal at 8.52 as Grant Mismash and Colton Saucerman combined to tee up American forward Adam Robbins who scored his first goal for the club.
Manchester thought they had drawn level later in the first period only for Brandon Cutler to see his effort ruled out via video review which confirmed his shot hit the post and rebounded out.
Storm eventually levelled the game at 26.41 when Bradley Jenion fired home after Blaze killed a powerplay at the end of the first period.
However, Coventry reclaimed the lead short-handed at 33.43 as Matthew Gleason produced a clinical finish on a Manchester powerplay.
The home side tied the game on their next powerplay chance at 45.25 when Stephen Johnson squeezed a shot through Stewart.
And the game went to overtime with Coventry unable to capitalise on a powerplay chance of their own late on in third period.
Storm netminder Drew DeRidder denied Mismash on a breakaway early in the extra period.
And Manchester’s recent signing Dante Hannoun won the game for the home side at 61.10 when he broke free and found the net.
Coventry then suffered a sixth straight defeat at the hands of leaders Sheffield despite the return of goaltender Robson.
After both teams spurned early powerplay opportunities, Sheffield broke the deadlock at 17.26 when Mikko Juusola scored on the man advantage.
Sheffield struck again just 16 seconds into the middle period as Dominic Cormier fired past Robson after progressing down the left wing.
And the Steelers extended their lead at 24.45 when Mitchell Heard cut in from the right and drove a shot into the net from close range.
Coventry reduced the deficit at 39.38 as Vertanen floated a shot over the shoulder of Steelers netminder Eamon McAdam on the powerplay.
The goal acted as a trigger for fans to throw teddy bears onto the ice as part of Blaze’s ‘Air the Bear’ charity collection for Cash for Kids: Mission Christmas.
Sheffield all but sealed the points at 50.21 when Sam Tremblay scored with the Steelers short-handed.
And Tremblay struck again at 58.02 to complete the scoring with a length-of-the-ice empty net goal after Blaze pulled Robson for an extra skater.
Coventry are next in action against Sheffield on Saturday, December 6 with the face-off at 7pm at the Utilita Arena.
Blaze then host Guildford Flames on Sunday, December 7 with the face-off at 5.30pm at the Skydome.
