Giants too hot for COVID-hit Blaze

Photo: Scott Wiggins

Belfast Giants had too much for a COVID-19 hit Coventry Blaze on Wednesday night, running out six-goal winners at the Skydome.

The Blaze, without a handful of players, handed full EIHL debuts to Vanya Antonov, Edward Bradley and Brady Doxey, as well as recalling Nathan Ripley, to boost their numbers.

It was the Blaze who took the lead just 3:19 into the game with Evan Bloodoff being set free down the middle of the ice and making no mistake with the finish. Unfortunately for the hosts, that was about as good as it got as the Giants ran in three first-period goals to take control of things.

A terrible turnover in the defensive zone gifted the Giants an equaliser through Scott Conway just over three minutes after they went behind. At 16:12 Cam Knight wristed home on the powerplay to put the Giants ahead, before former Blaze man Ben Lake made it 3-1 with Jordan Hedley scrambling and 56 seconds left in the period.

Mark Cooper set up Lake for a nice finish from the slot for the visitors' fourth at 32:36, while Conway also grabbed his second of the night at 35:55 thanks to an excellent touch from David Goodwin to move the puck to him in front of the net.

Mark Cooper made it 6-1 with 6:19 left to play, with Lake completing his hat-trick inside the final 40 seconds to round off an excellent road win for the Giants.

Antonov was chosen as the Blaze's man of the match after his bright performance.