COVENTRY Blaze maintained their play-off push with a hard-fought 3-2 victory away at Fife Flyers following an overtime defeat against Cardiff Devils.
Blaze overturned a first period deficit to beat the Flyers at Fife Ice Arena as Brady Pouteau scored the winner after Alessio Luciani netted a brace for the visitors.
That came after Coventry staged a stirring third period comeback before losing 4-3 in overtime against Cardiff at the Skydome Arena.
The results mean Blaze sit fifth in the Elite League standings.
Blaze made the trip to Scotland to take on Fife and made the perfect start as Luciani found the net just 51 seconds into the contest.
However, Fife equalised at 14.34 when Lucas Chiodo beat Mat Robson in the Blaze net.
And Daniel Krenzelok completed the turnaround for Fife at 17.47 late in the first period.
Blaze drew level at 26.06 when Luciani scored his second goal of the game.
And Pouteau won the game for Blaze at 29.09 with a low shot past Fife netminder Janis Voris from the high slot.
Coventry killed a minor penalty early in the third period before the official penalised Morten Jurgens for tripping late on.
Fife pulled Voris for an extra skater but Blaze held firm to come away with the points.
On home ice against Cardiff, Coventry scored two third period goals to take the game to overtime before Cardiff eventually triumphed.
The Devils broke the deadlock at 10.19 when Ryan Barrow reacted quickest to turn home the loose puck.
Coventry equalised at 12.49 as Chase Gresock unleashed a powerful first-time shot past Mac Carruth on the powerplay.
However, Cardiff reclaimed the lead with just three seconds left in the first period as Kohen Olischefski fired a shot past Robson.
And the Devils stretched their lead at 27.06 as Sam Duggan found the net on the powerplay despite Blaze believing the puck struck the netting behind the goal as the official allowed play to continue.
Blaze cut the deficit at 43.49 courtesy of Luciani with the goal awarded following a video review.
The officials determined the puck deflected off Luciani’s skate, from David Clements’ pass, without a distinct kicking motion.
And Coventry drew level at 44.16 as Mike Regush burst up the ice and fired a shot over the line via the aid of the crossbar with the goal awarded following another video review.
The game went to overtime and the Devils won the game at 63.07 when Cole Sanford fired a one-timer past Robson on the powerplay after Mike Kennedy received a slashing penalty.
Coventry are next in action against Manchester Storm on Friday, March 14 with the face off at 7.30pm at Planet Ice Altrincham.
Blaze then travel to Glasgow Clan on Saturday, March 15 with the face off at 7pm at Braehead Arena.
And Coventry host Manchester on Sunday, March 16 with the face off at 5.30pm at the Skydome.
