Excel Hull Stingrays 2 - 6 Coventry Blaze
The Excel Hull Stingrays fell to the Coventry Blaze for the fifth time in the league this year, following up on a 7-9 loss when the two teams last met at the Hull Arena.
The game began with Coventry applying early pressure on Stingrays' netminder Curtis Cruickshank, which paid dividends just 42 seconds in. After some questionable defensive play from the home side, Russ Cowley found himself behind the Stingrays' goal, and he neatly finished a wraparound goal down low on Cruickshank's glove side.
The Stingrays responded in emphatic style, with some impressive forechecking from Cooke forcing a turnover in the Coventry zone. Koulikov picked up the puck along the boards, found Mitchell behind the hash marks, and he finished with an accurate wrist shot into the top corner of Perras' goal.
However, the Stingrays could not capitalise on this early equaliser, and a misguided Pavel Gomenyuk pass allowed the Blaze to gain possession in the Stingrays' zone. After an initial shot was saved, Barrie Moore finished high on Cruickshank's blocker side.
In the second period the Blaze continued to show their superiority, and this was reflected on the scoreboard when new signing Blake Forsyth fired home on the powerplay, after referee Andy Carson had called a slashing penalty on Steve Slonina.
The Stingrays made sure that they were within touching distance of the Blaze when they replied with a powerplay goal of their own at 31:11. After a concerted period of pressure in the Coventry zone, James Cooke eventually scrambled home past a flapping Perras in the Blaze net.
Coventry continued to outshoot the Stingrays in the second period, and it was nothing more than they deserved when GB international Russ Cowley restored their two goal cushion by finishing a clinical play through Cruickshank's pads. Danny Stewart picked up his third assist of the game.
The deficit was to prove too much for the home side, and the need to push forward left large spaces on the ice for Coventry to exploit. Further goals from Dan Carlson (38:46) and Danny Stewart (56:22) put the tie out of reach, leaving the injury-hit Stingrays empty handed.
Best Moment- An off-the-line clearance from Stingrays defenceman Antti Turunen, saving netminder Cruickshank's blushes.
Worst Moment- An uncharacteristic error from Pavel Gomenyuk, gifting Coventry their go-ahead goal in the first period.
F Block MOM
Stingrays- Lee Mitchell (1+1) - Was at the heart of everything good in the Stingrays' offensive play, and took his goal well. He made a solid Blaze defence look ragged at times, and nearly scored another in a rare three-on-one rush on the Blaze goal.
Blaze - Danny Stewart (1+4) - Had a hand in five of the Blaze's six goals. His play was a constant threat to the Stingrays, and he proved too hot to handle for a below-par Stingrays defence.
Stingrays Verdict: (5/10) A mediocre performance from an understrength Stingrays side. Numerous defensive errors provided a much improved Coventry side with plentiful opportunities throughout the game. Positive performances from goalscorers Lee Mitchell and James Cooke, along with a typically robust effort from Jeff Glowa.
Strachan's Verdict: "They were better than us in every area. We didn’t match up well with them. They have three awesome lines and we had seven forwards. But they just wear you down and they were relentless. To beat them you have to play mistake-free and we made two mistakes in the first 10 minutes. We got back in the game at 3-2 but then conceded two goals when we were in control of the puck. You give them a chance and they will take it."
