Moore era starts with a Blaze win

Coventry Blaze opened their new era under Kevin Moore with a 4-2 win over Glasgow Clan in front of a healthy Skydome crowd.

It looked like being a comfortable ride for the Blaze who were three up with 12 minutes to go, but had a nervy end before the empty-netter settled things.

Period one ended goalless despite some powerplay chances for both sides, the Blaze probably just edging things on quality chances.

Coventry were ahead at 27:11 on an off-man rush where Grayson Constable fed Michael Regush to beat Landon Bow high. An almost carbon copy of the same play saw the hosts double their lead, but this time shorthanded – Jackson Creesey the provider for Nick Seitz 1:47 later.

Constable was denied by a sprawling Bow save before the period was out as the Blaze looked good value for their two-goal lead.

A double-minor on Deven Sideroff for a high stick eventually led to the Blaze’s third as Alessio Luciani patiently out-waited Bow before firing into his top corner to put Coventry three ahead with only 11:11 left to play. However, a Cole Ully breakaway got Clan on the board with 8:13 remaining before Luciani was ejected for spearing after a video review. Sideroff crashed a one-timer past Mat Robson to cut the deficit down to one goal with 126 seconds to go.

Still on the man advantage, Clan again pulled Bow for the extra skater and fired shots on Robson, but they were undone by David Clements launching the puck into the empty net from his own goal line with 31 seconds left.