IT PROVED to be a mixed weekend for Blaze after they tasted another defeat in the Challenge Cup but bounced back to winning ways in the League.
The weekend got underway at Nottingham Panthers on Friday evening where Blaze suffered their third defeat in the cup competition.
Goals from Chris Lawrence and Greg Jacina saw the holders take a two-goal first-period lead before British defenceman James Griffin cut the deficit.
But despite calling a time-out and pulling netminder Brian Stewart, Blaze could not find a game-tying goal.
“That is the prime example why you have to play for 60 minutes in this league,” said LeFebvre.
“Teams are too good, there is too much parity in this league. We just got out-worked, we did not show up in the first period and I am very disappointed.
“We could not get out of our zone for the first 15 minutes, we came back in the second and third periods but that is two points dropped.”
LeFebvre was unhappy with the performance inside the National Ice Centre on Friday and demanded a response from his players on Sunday which he got when Blaze overcame Braehead Clan 3-2 at the Skydome in the Elite League.
Jereme Tendler gave Blaze a flying start by scoring after just 73 seconds and Derek Lee doubled their lead before Derek Roehl halved the deficit but Tender’s second of the night restored Blaze’s two-goal cushion.
Roehl netted again seven minutes from time but the hosts saw the game out to claim their first win in four attempts.
LeFebvre added: “I was proud of the guys for the way they responded. I was looking for a response and they found a way to grind out two big league points.
“We came out hard, they had a long trip and we wanted to get a jump on them. Overall it was a great effort.”
On Tendler’s purple patch, LeFebvre added: “That can only be a positive and it was good to see him get a couple of goals.
“We had different lines to try and get some people going and it worked for the most part.”
Man of the match Ross Venus had a great game full of energy against Braehaed Clan. (s) Photo by Scott Wiggins