Flyers fall as Blaze complete four point weekend
The Coventry Blaze got off to the best possible start winning both of their games in the opening weekend of the Elite League season. A long road trip to Dundee was a fruitful one as Mike Schutte scored the winning penalty shot in a 3-2 penalty shots victory. Greg Leeb and Mike Egener scored the goals during regulation.
It is always a tough weekend for Coventry when there is an away game in Scotland on the Saturday night followed by a home game on the Sunday. The Blaze players returned back to Coventry at around 6am in the morning and had to pick themselves up after limited sleep for game two of the weekend. Fife were in good spirits as well after securing a win for themselves, shutting out Edinburgh 2-0 the night before.
Blaze jumped out to a two goal lead in the first ten minutes with captain Shea Guthrie dancing in from the boards with the puck to open the scoring before Benn Olson got a rare opportunity playing as a forward on the powerplay and sniped the puck home from short range. The 6’4” Canadian showed that there is definitely more to his game than fighting with an accomplished finish. Fife would pull one back before the end of the first period when ex-Blaze forward Danny Stewart would continue the curse of returning players jumping on a loose puck in front of the net and slotting it home.
The game was very physical in nature, more so than any of the matches last season. Zac Carriveau was called for a check from behind moments before the end of the first period; this raised the temperature of both teams and the penalties flowed in the second. Chris Wands equalised for Fife before Brad Leeb put the Blaze back in front. Leeb was making his home debut after sitting three games out through suspension.
Another Flyer, Jamie Wilson, was also penalised for a check from behind; before he could be escorted to the box Gerome Giudice took exception to the hit and the pair fought. Blaze players would continue to go to the box and put them on the back foot until Jeff Caister equalised late in the third period. Coventry looked like they were heading to overtime for the second night running until Brad Leeb hit his second of the night and the game winner, securing man of the match honours in the process as well.
Fife are much improved from the 2011-12 version of their side, however given the Blaze were two imports and their top British player down they arguably expected to take something from the game. Coventry are surely pleased that they managed to secure the victory and complete their first weekend in the 2012-13 season in winning fashion.
