A DEPLETED Coventry Blaze side continued their inspired home form on Saturday night, defeating mid-table Fife Flyers 6-5 and starting a hectic schedule in fine fashion.
The Blaze will play five games – including tonight’s victory – in just eight nights with the away leg against Fife to come tomorrow before two fixtures against Nottingham and one at home to Belfast on Saturday (February 20).
Following previous victories against Dundee and Sheffield, the Blaze entered Saturday’s game on a purple patch of form.
Coventry signalled their intent to Fife early on with a powerplay goal from new signing Brenden Walker, just eight minutes into the game.
Fife fought back with two goals of their own, only for Jordan Pietrus to level the scores with five minutes remaining in the second period.
Three goals in under five minutes left the Blaze in a dominant position leading by three goals as Walker, Robinson and Lauzon triggered the red light.
Coventry will be thankful for Walker’s two goals as Fife failed to back down in the third period, despite being three goals behind after Cale Tanaka tapped home loose puck at 56.20.
Two goals in the concluding three minutes from Fife gave them the slightest hope, though Coventry remained strong and ended the game winning 6-5.
Blaze Man of the Match Brenden Walker said: “Fife battled right to the end and you have to give them credit for that.
“It’s a great win for us and I feel better for tonight – it was a tough game but we buried chances and they came hard at the end so we had to work right until the final buzzer.”
Blaze head coach Chuck Weber told The Observer that although the Blaze have five games in the space of eight days, his side will perform better because of it.
Weber added: “The guys want to play hockey and I believe our best period of play this season was over Christmas when we was rushed off our feet with games.
“We have to keep getting points as the teams around us are giving us no help right now, it’s important we remain focused as the playoffs get closer.
“The home spirit has really picked up and tonight’s crowd was great.
“It was nice to see plenty of Coventry fans behind Stewart tonight – he heard them loud and clear I’m sure.”
