Ice Hockey
Blaze celebrate biggest win of season at Hull

By Steve Carpenter Tuesday 05 February 2013 Updated: 06/02 15:22

Buy photos » Blaze coach Paul Thompson was delighted with his side after beating Hull 7-2 in the Elite League. (s) Photo by Mark Tredgold

BLAZE registered their biggest away win of the season at Hull Stingrays to bring to an end a run of seven games without a win in all competitions.

Seven different players got their names on the score sheet as Paul Thompson's side bounced back from a 6-2 defeat against leaders Nottingham Panthers on Saturday night by beating basement boys Hull 7-2.

The win leaves Blaze fifth in the league standings with just 13 games to go until the end of what Thompson admits has been a frustrating campaign.

He said: "The team needed that. It is about time we scored a few goals.

"We have had some miserable moments in the last few weeks and we have shot ourselves in the foot at times.

"It was comfortable and it could have been double figures with the opportunities we had.

"We have had a tough four to five weeks where results have not gone our way. It’s not as though we have been playing badly. We have just crumbled at times.

"We need to build on this now and we want to catch Cardiff."

Despite going on to record an emphatic win, Blaze did find themselves behind after four minutes as Matty Davies converted to put the hosts ahead on Sunday evening at the Hull Arena.

But Blaze levelled with a delayed penalty goal from Mike Schutte before Stingrays defenceman Martin Ondrej and Derek Campbell had an altercation, with the latter picking up 19 minutes of penalties.

Greg Leeb put Blaze in front just 38 seconds into the middle session and further goals by Russell Cowley, Adam Henrich and Dustin Cameron extended their advantage.

Stingrays netminder Ben Bowns was replaced by Greg Blais but Blais was soon beaten as Jerramie Domish grabbed a sixth and Mike Bayrack made it 7-1 with ten minutes remaining.

Jeff Smith (Stingrays) and Benn Olson (Blaze) then received fighting majors and having started the scoring, Davies finished it off 24 seconds later.