31 Dec 2023, 16:00 | Regular season | Motorpoint Arena Nottingham |
Nottingham Panthers | 2-4 | Coventry Blaze |
Periods: Shots: | 1-2 (8-13) | 0-0 (10-11) | 1-2 (15-10) | Total: 33-34 |
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Referees: Pering/Miller  |  Spectators: 6636 |
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Goals and assists
Coventry Blaze re-entered the league's top five with their second win over Nottingham Panthers in as many nights.
Having
come back from 3-1 on home ice to win in a shootout, there was less
drama about their win in front of 6,636 fans at the Motorpoint Arena.
Alexander
Lunsjo opened the scoring with 5:40 played, poking home a Westin
Michaud shot that landed at his feet after tic-tac-toe play from the
Panthers. Blake Thompson levelled not two minutes later with a shot past
a screen Rok Stojanovič. Coventry then took the lead with 10:24 on the
clock thanks to an inch-perfect Kim Tallberg shot as the visitors broke
2-on-1.
The middle frame ended scoreless but was most notable for
Panthers' Myles McGurty being ejected on a Kneeing major penalty with
2:39 left in the period.
The Panthers killed off the remainder of
that penalty in the third and saw the crowd lifted in response.
However, the Blaze were 3-1 ahead through former Panther Jack Hopkins
who took advantage of the puck bouncing to him in front of the net and
shooting straight past Stojanovič to give his side the two-goal cushion.
Ian McNulty made it 4-1 with 6:52 left to play.
Jonathan Paredes
then threw caution to wind and pulled Stojanovič with 2:46 to play in an
effort to generate something for the hosts. The gamble paid off when an
excellent goal from Mathieu Lemay at 58:20, but they ultimately ended
the game two short.