A 59th minute Blaze goal broke open a 1-1 deadlock and gave the home team the Challenge Cup points as Flames fell 2-1 on the road at Coventry.
Through the opening 20 minutes, Flames outshot Blaze 18-11 but Mat Robson at Coventry’s end and Jake Kupsky guarding the cage for the visitors ensured the frame would close without a goal for either side.
A little over 5 minutes into the 2nd, the home team opened the scoring off the stick of Grayson Constable. Just inside the back half of the frame with Blaze looking to extend on the powerplay, Flames turned the table with a Jack Jacome shorthanded marker that levelled at a goal each which is how it stood to begin the 3rd.
Nearly 19 minutes of the final stanza melted away before Blaze secured the winner surviving video review off the stick of Nick Seitz. After re-start the visitors immediately removed Kupsky for a 6th skater in an effort to equalize but time wound down before a tying goal could be found.
Kupsky turned away 31 of 33 shots while Robson was 38 for 39.
“It’s frustrating to be that close to a point and then to give one up at the end and come away with nothing,” said Paul Dixon.
“We need the Cup points and even getting 1 would have been useful, but it was not to be tonight and we will have to quickly shift focus immediately for Cardiff coming in to see us Sunday night in league play.”
