NICK Seitz scored a hat-trick as Coventry Blaze romped to an emphatic 9-2 win against Fife Flyers after beating Dundee Stars on penalty shots.
Blaze scored four goals inside nine minutes in a blistering first period against Fife at the Skydome Arena after coming from two goals down to beat Dundee in a shootout at Dundee Ice Arena.
The results mean Coventry sit second in the Elite League standings, three points behind leaders Cardiff Devils with a game in-hand.
Against Fife, Blaze made an explosive start as Jacob Stridsberg pounced on a rebound to out the home side in front after just 18 seconds.
And Chase Gresock doubled Coventry’s lead on the powerplay at 1.44 after Flyers captain Olivier LeBlanc was called for tripping.
Blaze maintained their ruthless start when Alessio Luciani’s skilful wraparound finish at 6.51 stretched the home side’s lead.
And Mike Regush’s powerplay goal at 8.54 left the visitors stunned.
Fife responded in the second period at 27.24 as Michael Cichy’s powerplay strike beat Mat Robson.
Coventry restored their four-goal lead at 36.06 when Seitz tapped in following relentless pressure in front of Shane Owen’s net.
Flyers head coach Tom Coolen unsuccessfully challenged the award of the goal for goaltender interference.
Fife struck again on the powerplay at 41.25 courtesy of Noah Delmas before Jack Hopkins netted at 50.15 to extinguish any hopes of a comeback.
And Seitz completed a first professional hat-trick with two powerplay goals, at 53.39 and 54.26, in quick succession.
Zach Heintz completed the scoring with 15 seconds left to play, assisted by Brynley Capps who earned his first professional point.
That came after Blaze produced an impressive third period comeback to beat Dundee on penalty shots.
The Stars raced into a two-goal lead as Brett Gravelle and Brendan Harms netted at 4.12 and 4.51 respectively.
However, Seitz halved the deficit at 5.01 before Harms received two penalties for slashing and abuse of the official in the second period.
Coventry were unable to capitalise on the powerplay and Dundee made Blaze pay at 35.10 when Philippe Sanche found the net.
Blaze reduced the deficit at 45.20 as Seitz grabbed his second of the game before Robson made a crucial one-on-one save to deny Sanche.
And a first-ever Blaze goal from Terrance Amorosa at 55.06 sent the game to overtime.
Both netminders starred in overtime as Dundee’s Richard Sabol denied Luciani and Regush while Robson thwarted Zachary Tsekos on a breakaway.
In the shootout, both teams traded successful attempts before Blaze captain Kim Tallberg clinched victory with the final shot.
Coventry are next in action against Guildford Flames on Saturday, November 30 with the face-off at 6pm at Guildford Spectrum.
Blaze then host Manchester Storm in the Challenge Cup on Sunday, December 1 with the face-off at 5.30pm at the Skydome.
