Flames end cup group stage with win

Photo: John Uwins

Guildford flames ended their Viaplay Challenge Cup Group Stage campaign with a win over Coventry Blaze at the Spectrum.

The home side looked to be in complete control with a four-goal lead through 40 minutes thanks to Owen Griffiths and Jordan Klimek in the first period, and Ryan Tait and Sam Marklund in the second.

However, Coventry had other ideas and were straight back in things through Mitch Cook 64 seconds into period three, and although Turner Ripplinger squeezed a backhanded shot past Will Bray eight seconds later, Kim Tallberg cut the deficit back down to three goals at 41:57. The Swede struck again with just under 12 minutes to go to get the Blaze back to within two, but Peter Crinella ending its own goal drought with 2:44 left effectively ended the game. The Flames pulled their goalie to try a 6-on-5 play inside the final minute, which backfired with John Curran scoring to make it 6-4, but Ryan Tait sneaked another innocent-looking effort past Bray to make it seven for the hosts with two seconds remaining.