Festive Preview - Devils Vs Blaze

24th Dec 2012 | Posted by Simon Rafferty

This seasons festive Hockey see’s the Devils in action against the Blaze at home on Boxing day and away on the 27th in Coventry for the return match. The Devils come into the game riding high after a four point weekend while the beleaguered Blaze come into the games short benched and licking their wounds after two heavy defeats at the weekend. This will be the sixth meeting between the two teams so far this season (Excluding pre-season) with the Blaze currently 3 – 2 up.

We took a good look at the Blaze squad at the start of the season which you can check out here  http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/news/devils-vs-blaze-29th-september-730pm-face-off/ they’ve made a few additions since then with NHL Lockout forward Matt Beleskey and forward Mike Bayrack from last season’s Braehead Clan joining and forward Gerome Giudice leaving the club.

Looking at the Blazes games over the weekend we have the Blaze in action on Friday away to the Giants and then on Sunday at home to the Panthers.

First up on Friday against the Giants who got off to a great start when  Sam Roberts fired them ahead after only 2.31 but before the end of the opening period Blaze hit back and at 11.11 Brad Leeb tied the game.

The second period saw Giants outshoot Blaze by 23 to 13 but Peter Hirsch remained solid in the visitor’s cage until beaten at 35.47 by a shot from Noah Clarke to see the home side edge ahead once more.

Period three saw Giants have debutant Kevin Saurette thrown out on a 5+game for clipping at 46.57 but the Blaze power play unit was unable to take their opportunity and as time wore down Giants killed off the game with a delayed penalty goal by Greg Stewart at 57.46 and an empty net strike by Matt Towe at 58.43 to ensure the points were staying in Belfast.

Final Score Belfast Giants 4 -  1 Coventry Blaze 

Speaking after the game coach Thompson had this to say  “It is a huge blow to lose Shea and we are still in a state of shock. We have no idea how long he will be out.”
 
“To lose one of the most impact players, if not the impact player, in the league is going to hurt. But we have been battling injuries all year and this is another blow.”
 
“But there was no-one else other than Russell to give the captaincy too. He is a leader on and off the ice and he knows what the club is all about from top to bottom.
 
“He was an obvious choice to step up and I know he will see that as a big honour.”
 
Sunday saw the Panthers give the Blaze a mauling inflicting the  Blaze’s worst ever home loss in the Elite League’s ten seasons.

The rout started as early as 109 seconds as David Ling fired the visitors into the lead. Blaze were simply swept away as Panthers scored two more goals in 21 seconds through Robert Lachowicz at 6.23 and Eric Werner at 6.44 to lead 3-0 before Mike Egener of Blaze and Kelsey Wilson of Panthers dropped the gloves at 9.57. Still the scoring was not finished as Panthers scored a fourth at 12.48, with Ling hitting his second of the game.

Panthers went nap at 25.21 with Bruce Graham on target before a second fight took to the stage between Benn Olson of Blaze and Guillaume Lepine of Panthers. The momentum was not changing however and late in the session Wilson hit Panthers sixth of the night at 38.37 allowing Egener and Lepine to finish the period with fight number three at 39.19.

Panthers were in no mood to let up and added a couple of further goals in the third period with Matt Francis at 53.53 on the power play and Brandon Benedict at 56.02 completing a great night for the NIC based side but a thoroughly miserable one for Paul Thompson’s troops.    

Coventry only managed 18 shots on goal in the game. 

Final score Coventry Blaze 0 – 8  Nottingham Panthers

Speaking after the game Coventry Coach Paul Thompson had this to say.

“We know it is not going to be easy and we are also missing a couple of guys again, just when we had a full line-up for the first time this season.”

“But it is a challenge we are looking forward to and the guys are really pumped about these games. When we play teams in our conference the intensity and atmosphere increases and they are great battles.”

“After this period we will know where we are as a hockey club. I always say the league splits into three after the new year and hopefully we will still be in the pack chasing the title.”

The ones to watch for the Blaze are Mike Schutte on 11 Goals and 29 Assists, Greg Leeb ( the big one ? ) on 9 Goals and 22 Assists, Brad Leeb ( the small one ? ) on 17 Goals and 13 assists and NHL lockout player Matt Beleskey on 8 goals and 17 assists.

In Goals the Blaze are backed up by Peter Hirsch who boasts a 91.2% save percentage and a goals against average of 3.03.

Blaze scoring on the Devils has come from Shea Guthrie who’s on four goals, Mike Schutte with two Goals and Greg Leeb also with two goals.

Coming into the games the Blaze will be without injured British duo Sam Smith and Ross Venus and Shea Guthrie they will also of course be without Gerome Giudice who has left the club.

You can check out details of our last meeting with the Blaze here  http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/news/weekend-review-24th-25th-november/

The Devils scoring on the Blaze has come primarily from Stuart MacRae on 4 goals and  Max Birbraer on 3 goals.

We will be running the “ridiculously childish and disgustingly biased” Match Night Live service for these games, expect name calling and one eyed bias in epic proportions, at the usual location of http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/mnl if you'd like to help out by texting updates (we’d be happy to hear from you) or chip in with some comments on the night please contact us at matchnightlive@gmail.com.

For details of upcoming away travel with Red Army Travel you can get all the information here http://the-inferno.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6212