22 Mar 2023, 19:30 | Regular season | SkyDome Arena |
Coventry Blaze | 2-4 | Guildford Flames |
Periods: Shots: | 1-0 (12-8) | 1-2 (7-10) | 0-2 (14-7) | Total: 33-25 |
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Referees: Pering/Miller  |  Spectators: 1484 |
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Goals and assists
Guildford Flames got the win in their game in hand that they needed
to cut the gap on Belfast Giants down to two points as both sides head
into their final four fixtures of the season. The Flames were made to
work hard for a 4-2 win in Coventry by a strong Blaze performance,
especially in the opening period.
The Blaze came out excellently
in period one and dominated both the possession and chances in the
opening 20 minutes. They were deservedly ahead at 5:51 as Peyton Frantti
unleashed a wicked wrist shot into the far corner of Eamon McAdam's
net.
The Blaze were unlucky not to be further ahead with McAdam
denying them on several further occasions, although at the other end Sam
Marklund somehow managed to miss from in front of the net when it
looked easier to score.
Guildford needed a quick response in
period two, and after a better start they got it. Just 2:34 had been
played when an Ian McNulty stretch pass found Levi Cable clean through
to finish over over Miklós Rajna to tie the game. Nathanael Halbert
shot, off a Blaze faceoff win, through McAdam's five-hole to put
Coventry back ahead at 28:39, but some six minutes later a Robert
Lachowicz pass into the crease deflected off Rjana and over the goal
line to level things up again.
The Flames took their first lead
of the night as no one picked up McNulty in the slot to fire home
Cable's feed 2:58 into period three. Coventry were a constant threat the
other way and had a couple of Colton Yellow Horn, he himself returning
from injury, chances sail just wide of the post. With the clocking
ticking down, Rajna was pulled and after two attempts on the empty net
it was McNulty who sealed the win for the Flames.
This win means
that there no is no mathematical possibility for Belfast Giants to win
the league title this weekend unless the Flames drop points in their
fixtures.