Ice Hockey
Blaze end eventful weekend with a win

By Steve Carpenter Tuesday 19 February 2013 Updated: 19/02 10:53

Buy photos » Dustin Cameron fires home the winning goal at home to Edinburgh Capitals on Sunday evening. (s) Photo by Mark Tredgold

DUSTIN Cameron netted a late winner as Blaze ended a busy weekend by securing four points out of a possible six at home to Edinburgh Capitals on Sunday night.

Coach Paul Thompson said the 'swagger' had returned to his Blaze side ahead of the club's busiest weekend of the campaign, which began with two games against Belfast Giants at the Odyssey Arena.

Brad Leeb and Adam Henrich scored twice as Blaze started the weekend with a 5-2 win on Friday but the following evening Thompson's side found themselves on the end of an 8-2 thrashing.

It was going to take a lot to come back from such a heavy defeat but Cameron's 21st goal of the season at home to Edinburgh on Sunday ensured Blaze remain tight on the heels of fourth placed Cardiff Devils, with the gap shortened to just one point.

“If you had offered me four points out of six this weekend with back-to-back games in Belfast of course I would have taken it,” said Thompson.

“Edinburgh are a very talented team and I can see why they have won a lot of games lately.

“We were pretty sluggish in the first period and I expected that to be honest. We were not long back in the building after our flight over from Belfast and it was our third game in three nights.

“We started to find our legs and got stronger in the second period and I thought in the third period we took over and played our game.

“We were without Benn Olson and (Mike) Schutte so James Griffin and Russ Cowley dropped back onto ‘D’ and I thought they were outstanding. I also thought Steven Chalmers, Ross Venus, Dale White and Josh Bruce were really good too.”

The weekend started well for Blaze in Belfast with the team's leading scorer, Leeb, taking his tally for the season to 22 while Henrich made it six in five games as Blaze began with a win.

But joy soon turned to despair 24 hours later as Blaze conceded five final-period goals in their 8-2 defeat to Belfast.

A positive reaction was needed at the Skydome and Thompson got it as his Blaze side showed their true fighting spirit to bounce back with a win.

Mike Bayrack, back in the side in place of the banned Olson, opened the scoring but Capitals, who had won their previous four games, hit back to take the lead with two quick markers.

Leeb pulled Blaze level in the second period and that is how it remained until four minutes from time when Cameron won it for the home side.