23 Feb 2025, 17:30 | Regular season | SkyDome Arena |
Coventry Blaze | 2-4 | Dundee Stars |
Periods: Shots: | 1-1 (14-10) | 0-2 (5-14) | 1-1 (19-7) | Total: 38-31 |
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Referees: #50 James Ions, #48 Truswell  |  Spectators: 2036 |
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Goals and assists
Dundee Stars picked up a 4-2 road win in Coventry over the Blaze,
extending their cushion over Manchester Storm to nine points in the race
for the playoffs.
"I take a lot of pride playing in this league. I
love playing for my country and in the EIHL, and I don't have that many
years left so to have my name down there passing someone like Jonathan
Weaver, who I looked up to when I was coming through here in Coventry is
very special." began Ben O'Connor, who became the league's all-time
leading defenseman for assists at 400.
"To my team mates, and everyone who’s scored those goals to get me those assists, I can only say thank you.”
O'Connor
set that new EIHL record with an assist on Alex Robert's opening goal
at 12:32, firing home after O'Connor's shot was blocked in front.
Michael Regush levelled for the Blaze with just under three minutes to
go in a first period that struggled to get going.
"We knew that
our game against Guildford wasn’t good enough, and we had to play our
game tonight," continued O'Connor. "Looking at other results around the
league, it’s two big points for us. This isn’t an easy place to play,
Coventry are a very good team and they come very hard. But we had a
plan, stuck to it, and got it done."
5:35 into period two, Grayson
Constable was given a stand-alone boarding major for a poor hit on
Philippe Sanche, leading to the Stars going back ahead - a neat wrist
shot from Zach Tsekos in the circle beating Mat Robson. O'Connor then
made it 3-1 with a one-timer from the point that sailed past Robson into
the net. At 39:25, the Blaze thought they'd scored but the goal was
waived off on the ice. After video review, that decision was upheld with
the puck appearing to hit the crossbar rather than the back bar.
Tsekos
added his second of the night on a breakaway, beating Robson at the
second attempt to make it 4-1 7:17 into period three. Chase Gresock
reacted quick to pull one back with just under eight minutes to go, but
despite pulling Robson with three and a half minutes to go it was a
frustrating night for the home side who couldn't get themselves any
further back into the game.