COVENTRY Blaze suffered a cruel overtime defeat against Nottingham Panthers with the club competing in their first Challenge Cup final for 19 years.
Blaze pushed the Panthers all the way at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena as more than 6,000 spectators watched on.
Coventry led through Mike Pelech’s second period goal only for Mitchell Fossier to draw the hosts level.
And Jakob Stridsberg put the Panthers ahead in the third period as Elijiah Barriga’s powerplay strike sent the game to overtime.
However, Didrik Henbrant’s overtime goal denied Blaze a first piece of silverware since 2015.
Nottingham, led by former Blaze head coach Danny Stewart, have now won the Challenge Cup a record nine times.
Chances were at a premium in the first period as Panthers netminder Kevin Carr denied Grant Mismash late on.
And Coventry broke the deadlock at 22.56 when Pelech reacted quickest after Alessio Luciani’s initial effort struck the crossbar.
Nottingham levelled the game at 34.31 as Fossier finished past Mat Robson after a battle behind the Blaze net.
The Panthers completed the turnaround at 46.35 when former Blaze defenceman Stridsberg fired home from the blue line.
Blaze equalised at 51.56 courtesy of Barriga’s composed finish on the powerplay and killed a penalty with just 26 seconds remaining in regulation time to force overtime.
Both teams traded chances in the extra period before Henbrant fired home 11.29 into overtime as Blaze’s Challenge Cup campaign ended in an agonising defeat.
Coventry are next in action against Fife Flyers on Saturday, March 21 with the face-off at 7pm at the Skydome Arena.
Blaze then travel to Guildford Flames on Sunday, March 22 with the face-off at 6pm at the Guildford Spectrum.
