COVENTRY Blaze won one and lost one in their double header against Elite League leaders Belfast Giants to dent their opponents title hopes.
Blaze were thrashed 6-1 in the first game but bounced back to win 3-1 in the second fixture the following day as Tyler Kirkup scored his first two Coventry goals at SSE Arena Belfast to end the Giants 12-game winning run.
The results mean Blaze remain fifth in the Elite League table.
Kirkup’s debut brace helped Coventry to victory in Belfast as the club’s new signing stepped up in the absence of veteran Colton Yellow Horn who was left out for precautionary reasons.
Blaze made the perfect start as Jack Billings opened the scoring after just 47 seconds before Kirkup scored his first of the night at 4.49 as he converted JD Dudek’s pass.
However, Giants halved the deficit at 18.22 through Gabe Best as Belfast made the most of a five-on-three advantage whilst another Blaze player was without a stick.
That would prove to be Belfast’s only goal on the night as Blaze goalie Miklos Radja made 31 saves before Kirkup sealed the win with his second at 32.54 to end the home side’s 12-game winning run.
The result followed a heavy defeat the previous night as Giants took the lead at 3.30 through Steven Owre before Scott Conway, Mark Cooper and a second from Owre put Belfast in command ahead of the third period.
Conway increased Belfast’s lead at 50.49 to score his 34th goal of the season before Mitch Cook pulled a goal back at 56.06 and Grant Cooper completed the scoring at 58.42.
Blaze are next in action away at Guildford Flames on Wednesday, March 8 with the face-off at 7.30pm at Guildford Spectrum.
