Blaze win it in shootout

Photo: Scott Wiggins

Coventry Blaze survived conceding a late equaliser to beat Sheffield Steelers in a shootout and make it a four-point week, leaving Sheffield with one from two games.

Alexander Kuqali opened the scoring in this one just shy of the nine-minute mark, and when Garrett Johnston struck at 16:59 the hosts were two up. That lead, however, could not last until the break as Brett Neumann got the Steelers on the board with 65 seconds remaining in period one.

Rob Dowd tied the game 6:06 into period two, although the Blaze were back ahead soon after through Mitch Cook at 27:43. Tanner Lishchynsky batted the puck past Matt Greenfield at 43:52 to put the home side two ahead, but again there was a quick reply with Martin Látal bringing it back to 4-3 at 45:28. 

Sheffield threw everything at Paavo Hölsä net in the final stages, and with Greenfield pulled they finally forced an equaliser with 53 seconds to go through Danny Kristo in close.

Overtime produced no goals, and in the shootout only Colton Yellow Horn, in round one, could find the net- winning it for the home side.