Blaze end loss streak with important home win

Photo: Scott Wiggins

Coventry Blaze ended a three-game loss streak with a 5-2 win over a short-benched Cardiff Devils in front of a crowd of 2,746 at the Skydome.

Michael Regush scored a candidate for goal of the season to move the Blaze three-goals clear with just over five minutes to go.

"My dad has been here for the last two games and basically gave me a kick in the backside for our performances against Manchester and Guildford, so I’m happy to get some points and help the team tonight!" said Regush after the game. "The crowd was incredible tonight, playing in a sold-out arena, and we fed off the energy. It was a great bounceback performance from where we were five days or so ago, and now we need to use it as momentum when we play Cardiff again in a few days."

An exciting opening period in Coventry saw the teams locked in at one each after 20 minutes. The Blaze controlled most of the play, but found themselves a goal down to Joey Martin’s wrist shot that beat Mat Robson short side with 9:47 played.

After some good chances at the other end, the Blaze were level off the stick of David Clements who slapped home an excellent pass from Alessio Luciani behind the net some four minutes later.

Coventry took control of the game in the middle period as the Devils’ short bench began to tell. Chase Gresock scored just 13 seconds into things to put the home side ahead – Mac Carruth came out to play the puck behind the net, didn’t make it, but wasn’t entirely set back in position to stop Gresock’s one-timer finding the back of the net.

With 32:41 played, neither Terrance Amorosa nor Nick Seitz could beat Carruth, but Grayson Constable did from a slightly tight angle to make it 3-1. The Devils killed a couple of penalties before the period was out, with Evan Mosey jumping back on the ice onto a breakaway only for Mat Robson to deny him as the period neared its end.

Josh MacDonald, the league's leading point scorer, got the Devils back into things 5:13 into period three, but two goals in the final ten minutes settle things in the home side's favour.

"The more you play, having a crowd like we had tonight help us through as we got tired was incredible," added Regush. "They were awesome tonight and really helped us in the third period when it got to 3-2. Their energy was huge for us."

Nick Seitz converted on the powerplay with 8:45 to play to make it 4-2, before Regush went from the red line, controlling a bouncing puck, to beat Carruth and make it 5-2 with 5:40 to play.

The win meant the Blaze were the only team that started the day in the top four to get a victory on Boxing Day.

"I think this is the best time of the year, not just because it's Christmas," concluded Regush. "You just play hockey. Practices are shorter, you have to be mentally better prepared because you get less practice, and honestly I think it’s the best part of hockey when you get to play like this."