Blaze thrash Panthers to end two-game skid

Photo: Scott Wiggins

A 50-shot shutout for CJ Motte, coupled with three first-period goals, helped the Coventry Blaze end their two-game losing streak with a commanding 5-0 win over the Nottingham Panthers at the Skydome.

After a goalless ten minutes in which the Blaze had created the better chances, the home side hit three past Kevin Carr in as many minutes to take full control of the game. Luke Ferrara crashed home a powerplay goal at 14:30 to put them one ahead before two goals in 27 seconds extended their lead. 

Johnny Curran found the top corner from the edge of the circle with a speculative shot at 17:01, with Evan Bloodoff fired home a loose puck in the slot to make it 3-0 at 17:28.

The Panthers needed to score the next goal to have any hope of getting themselves back in the game but shot themselves in the foot with only 52 seconds gone in period two. A poor giveaway behind his own net by Brady Norrish allowed Curran to pick out Laakkonen in front for the easy tap-in.

Laakkonen then repaid the favour with a 2-on-1 setup for Curran on a badly-timed Panthers line change 3:38 into period three which put the Blaze 5-0 up and out of sight.