Billings wins it for Blaze with only goal in shootout

Photo: Scott Wiggins

Coventry Blaze and Fife Flyers were scoreless through 65 minutes of hockey at the Skydome on Sunday night, with only one goal in the shootout finally separating the teams.

The Blaze had the better of the possession in the opening two periods, but arguably it was Fife who had the better chances - both of which fell to Lucas Sandström. Firstly, he missed a penalty shot with 11:04 left to play in period two, and then as the period ticked down should have scored from in close but didn't.

Both teams had chances on period three as the clock wound down. Jack Billings was inches away from finally beaten Shane Owen inside the final ten minutes but his shot went through the crease and out the other side. At Paavo Hölsä's end, Zack Phillips couldn't beat the Finn in the slot.

Overtime was intense. There was no stoppage in play until 1:09 left in the extra period with Phillips again having the best chance for the visitors, while the hosts had a couple of opportunities which Owen did well to deny. The final 30 seconds saw Owen stop a Blaze 2-on-1, the Flyers miss-pass on a rush of their own, and then Owen bail out his team as Coventry attacked 2-on-0.

Jack Billings scored the only goal of the shootout to win it for the Blaze, with Hölsa stopping all 29 shots he faced lis five in the shootout, while Owen turned away 48 in open play. Both netminders were Man of the Match for their respective teams.