Keck scores two as Blaze go joint top

Photo: Scott Wiggins / Karl Denham

Jordan Hedley made 41 saves as the Coventry Blaze moved into joint-first of the 2021 Elite Series standings with an overtime win against the Nottingham Panthers.

The Blaze only had three shots through the opening 20 minutes of this game, but led after the first period - Tristan Keck finishing from Mike Hammond's feed at 16:32. 

After dominating the shout count in period two, the Panthers finally found. way past Jordan Hedley with 62 seconds remaining as Christophe Boivin beat the Blaze netminder with a tip. However, Keck fired home on the breakaway 51 seconds later to put the Blaze ahead once again.

The Blaze survived an early penalty at the beginning of the third period and then went on to add a powerplay marker of their own through Luke Ferrara in the slot at 49:22. The Panthers got themselves back to within one when Austin Cangelosi converted a 5-on-3 opportunity with just under eight minutes remaining, before Mark Matheson shot through traffic to level the scores inside the final four minutes. The Blaze had a late man-advantage opportunity, but a combination of excellent blocks and Ben Bowns forced the game into overtime.

Ross Venus was the overtime hero as he put the puck in at the third attempt to give Coventry the overtime win.

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