Flyers keep in touch with late show against Blaze

Photo: Flyers Images

A last-minute equaliser and overtime winner kept Fife Flyers within touching distance of the teams above them after an exciting game against Coventry Blaze in Kirkcaldy on Sunday night.

The hosts were ahead 7:18 into the game thanks to a nice top-shelf finish from Michael McNicholas on the powerplay - the first goal the Blaze had conceded in over 130 minutes of hockey. That lead held until partway through period two when Greg chase was called for holding the stick, and Ryan Penny tipped Janne Kivilahti's shot on net past Shane Owen to tie the game at 25:08. 

A Too many men call on the Flyers gave the Blaze the go-ahead goal inside the final ten minutes on the third period with Luke Ferrara crashing a shot back post past Owen just nine seconds into the man advantage. 

Fife pressed hard for an equaliser, and Head Coach Todd Dutiaume pulled Owen with just over two minutes to go. After a couple of close calls with the puck being turned over to the Blaze, and the crowd screaming "shoot", Kristian Blumenschein let a shot go form the point which was tipped past Motte en route by Carson Stadnyk to tie the game with 29 seconds remaining in regulation. 

McNicholas thought the Blaze should have been called for a penalty, or better a penalty shot, when he was through on Owen in overtime, but only seconds later Dillon Eichstadt was called for Tripping. 1:43 into the powerplay, McNicholas blasted past a screened Owen to win the game for the Flyers.

Coventry picked up a point with the OT loss, completing a five-point week for the Blaze.