Blaze get the point they need in shootout loss

Photos: Scott Wiggins

Coventry Blaze got the point they needed to earn home advantage in the Challenge Cup Play-In Round, but they had to work hard for it after allowing Guildford to go into a three-goal lead.

Guildford took the lead on a broken play through Kruise Reddick just over 12 minutes into the game. However, the Blaze were level as Matt Pohlkamp poked home a puck sitting at the top of the crease.

A textbook Calle Ackered goal put the Flames back ahead on the powerplay at 34:32, before an Owen Griffiths shot somehow squirmed through Jamie Phillips to give the Flames their third of the night just under three minutes before the end of the period.

The Flames looked to have the win in the bag when they went 4-1 ahead at 43:45 through Ben Davies, but Evan Bloodoff brought the Blaze back to within two with a nice solo effort with 14 minutes to play. With 47:57 on the clock, TJ Foster was awarded a penalty show after Drew Schiestel hacked at him from behind on a breakaway, but the Flames’ forward couldn’t convert, and the Blaze stayed in things.

Things got very interesting shortly after when Alex Forbes was able to slot into a gaping net and make it 3-4 with 10 minutes still left on the clock. Drew Schiestel's big shot from the point then had the home crowd in raptures as the Blaze got themselves back level with a little over three minutes to go.

Overtime was end to end but produced no goals - in the Shootout, Caller Ackered, Ian Watters and TJ Foster all scored to win for the game for the Flames - Charles Corcoran was the only one of four Blaze shooters to find the net.