A very frustrating game, but my favourite game we've played this year.
Refs were a shambles, however we can't and won't blame them.
If Blaze take 25 penalties but the refs only call 1, and we take 10 penalties but they call all 10, it is still our fault.
We lost our discipline early in the second and went head hunting, throwing bad hits, slashing etc getting very frustrated when nothing was called our way.
I fully expected Lordo to call a timeout to address it early on just to screw everybody back together.
Bownsy got beat 3 times high glove, all odd man rushes, at least one from a very poor line change. Not Bownsy's fault, didn't look like he saw any of the shots as they were well executed breaks by Coventry.
"Something" happening to Blood at our blue line then them scoring was a massive turning point, I haven't spoken to a single person that saw what actually happened (I'm guessing a trip or interference), and we can't be mad at the officials for not calling it.
3x abuse penalties as a result is very poor discipline overall. We spent a few shifts throwing our weight around, the game almost needed a big fight mid-second then start over.
Another thing i see very often in all hockey, when a blatant call is missed (Martin getting slashed) that player then going for the biggest hack/whack/cross check/high hit he can at the next opportunity and then getting irate when penalised.
It's why i love this sport. You don't get that anywhere else.
Shoutout on Saturday night to Kevin Noble, not the best player, not the smartest player, but played his game inside & out. Normally he is the agitator, but as soon as he saw the discipline going from us in the second he went quiet as a mouse and got on with business, as there was no need to risk any silly penalties.
Also would like to say a big well done to the paramedic crew for the outstanding care and precaution they took with the Blaze nettie.
Excellent to know we have world class first aid on game nights.