Blaze come from behind, stay unbeaten in league

Photo: Mark Ferris

Coventry Blaze maintained their unbeaten start to League play with a win in Altrincham over Manchester Storm, coming from 2-0 down to remain the only team yet to lose in the league,

Goals 31 seconds apart put the Storm two ahead early at the Storm Shelter. A wonderful Alexis D'Aoust pass from behind the net set up Jake Durflinger for his tenth goal of the seat 8:03 into the game to put Storm ahead. On the very next play, a Jow Morrow shot that was sailing wide was tipped in front by Grant Herbert to double the home side's lead. It could have been worse for the visitors when the Storm scored a third at 14:20, however Kevin Moore opted to challenge was the goal was waived off for goalie interference after review. There was a penalty shot called on the play for an Alex Kuqali hook prior to the goal, but D’Auost couldn’t beat Robson and the Blaze came out of the entire situation just two down.

That decision by Moore looked even more important by the end of the second period. Excellent passing across the Storm's zone on the powerplay saw Michael Regush feed Brandon Alderson to get the Blaze back into things on the 28-minute mark. Some seven minutes later, Morten Jurgens took a bobbling Jack Hopkins pass and scooped the puck over Evan Weninger to tie the game with 4:19 left in the period. Jackson Cressey completed the turnaround at 38:23 to put the Blaze 3-2 in front.

Greyson Constable beat Weninger in the slot 4:28 into the third to put the Blaze two ahead, before Zach Heintz capitalised on a puck caught in Morrow's feed to make it 5-2 just over two minutes later.

Nick Seitz finished a 2-on-1 by converting Creesy’s feed to make it 6-2 shorthanded just before the 50-minute mark as the Blaze put themselves into a comfortable lead that they held until the final buzzer.