COVENTRY Blaze made it three wins on the bounce in mid-week, when they won 3-1 away to Nottingham Panthers at the Motorpoint Arena, taking them inside the Elite Ice Hockey League play-offs.
Leapfrogging Dundee Stars into eighth, the win was secured courtesy of a brace from Great Britain forward Luke Ferrara on Wednesday night.
Blaze blundered a number of opportunities on the powerplay, firing 25 shots at goal compared to Panthers 14, but neither side could break through the two star players of the match, netminders Matt Hackett for the Blaze and Nottingham’s Patrick Munson.
The third period would be where the game opened up, as both sides looked for the winner.
Nottingham upped their shout count in the final period – with 13 shots to Blaze’s 10 – and subsequently opened the scoring.
Justin Kovac struck on 45.48, prior to Ferrara’s double (48.47 and 56.58) to claim a third win in a week.
The equaliser arrived just seconds after a powerplay for Coventry had ended, Ferrara played through by captain Kevin Morris, whilst the match-winner was a solo effort claimed in the final minutes.
Panthers were hit on the break as they desperately looked for a leveller, Morris diving for a loose puck to nudge it into the net to seal the points.
Blaze will look to continue their superb recent run when heading to the Sheffield Steelers tomorrow night (Saturday 23), before hosting the Fife Flyers the following day at the Skydome.