Flames edge out Blaze, thanks to a frantic third period fightback

Three goals in three frantic minutes in the third period completed a fine comeback for Guildford Flames in their game against Coventry Blaze at the Spectrum on Wednesday evening.

Flames found themselves two goals down inside the opening six minutes with Blaze holding a 3-1 advantage at the end of the middle period, before the third-period fightback.

Coventry came into the game undefeated in their last six games and it showed as the visitors were quick out of the traps after only 47 seconds, following a mistake by the hosts that allowed Janne Laakkonen a simple chance to open the scoring.

Laakkonen doubled the visitor’s lead on 6.46 when another Flames error was pounced on by the Finnish player for his second of the night.

Flames coach Paul Dixon immediately called a time out to try and get some composure into his side, with the message seemingly paying dividends as the home side steadily got themselves back into the contest.

A powerplay marker on 13.38 from John Dunbar pulled Flames to within a single goal as the visitors went into the buzzer holding a slender one-goal advantage.

Blaze bagged their third of the night with Flames’ Chris Gerrie in the box for hooking, Luke Ferrara’s slap shot from the ball line nestled into the bottom of the net on 25.26 for the only goal of the middle period.

Flames came out firing in the third period and were soon on the board on 46.22 when Turner Ripplinger picked out Ian McNulty to fire home.

A shade over two minutes later Flames were level after Blaze’s Dillon Eichstadt was serving a two-minute minor for high sticks. The power-play unit was working well for Guildford with Ian Watters levelling the match on 48.47.

Guildford took the lead for the first time in the game on 49.18 when Jake Bolton pocked home, with the goal given after a lengthy review.

With a minute to go, Coventry called a time out and pulled their netminder C.J. Motte for the extra attacker. Despite the extra skater, Flames netminder Kevin Lindskoug made three vital saves in the closing seconds to deny Blaze at least a point and keep Guildford still in the hunt for the end of season play-offs.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt