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GAME PREVIEW: First stop Blaze in challenging week

March 9, 2022

Coventry Blaze vs Glasgow Clan

Skydome Arena, Coventry (Face off 7.30pm)

There may be plenty of hockey to be played in the coming weeks, but this game could play a key part in how the seasons of Coventry Blaze and Glasgow Clan pan out in the longer term.

Only a point separates the two teams and with some big challenges to come for both clubs, a victory tonight will certainly help them so it already has the makings of a good game.

Previous meetings between the two have been run close and fans, either in the stands or watching online, can expect another tight, competitive contest.

It’s fair to say there isn’t much to separate the two teams and while Blaze have shutout Cardiff Devils and Nottingham Panthers recently, they may not find Clan willing to succumb to the same fate.

Regardless, Dundee Stars, while in action themselves, will be keen to see how this one pans out and with nothing will be decided, we should start to see who means business when it comes to the play-offs.

FORM GUIDE

COVENTRY BLAZE

Last Six Games:

Sun 06/03 PSEL vs Fife Flyers (a) L 2-3 (After Overtime)

Sat 05/03 PSEL vs Cardiff Devils (h) W 3-0

Wed 02/03 PSEL vs Nottingham Panthers (h) W 5-0

Sun 27/02 PSEL vs Sheffield Steelers (a) L 3-5

Sat 26/02 PSEL vs Belfast Giants (h) L 2-3

Sun 20/02 PSEL vs Fife Flyers (a) L 2-3

GLASGOW CLAN

Last Six Games:

Sun 06/03 PSEL vs Cardiff Devils (a) L 1-3

Sat 05/03 PSEL vs Fife Flyers (h) W 5-2

Sun 27/02 PSEL vs Cardiff Devils (h) W 6-3

Sat 26/02 PSEL vs Fife Flyers (a) W 5-4 (After Overtime)

Sun 20/02 PSEL vs Guildford Flames (a) L 2-8

Sat 19/02 PSEL vs Dundee Stars (h) W 5-2

THE SEASON SO FAR

Sat 12/02 Glasgow Clan 4 Coventry Blaze 6

Sat 04/12 Coventry Blaze 2 Glasgow Clan 5

Sat 27/11 Glasgow Clan 2 Coventry Blaze 3 (After Penalty Shots)

PLAYER TO WATCH

#62 Janne Laakkonen

The experienced Finnish forward continues to show why head coach Danny Stewart was keen to have him back at the Skydome once the action was back underway.

He might be hitting 40 next month, but his play on the left allows him to chalk up the assists with great frequency and gives the Blaze an outlet from which his team-mates pounce on.

At five-foot-nine, he has the size to skate quickly into those lanes and set something up before the opposition can do anything about it.

His threat is real, with three points to his name against the Clan already this season and Stewart will look to him to keep that going for the Blaze.

PREVIOUS MEETING

THE NUMBERS GAME

7

Number of periods at home since Coventry Blaze last conceded a goal at the Skydome. They’ve shut out Cardiff Devils and Nottingham Panthers in their last two games.

9

Number of games since Glasgow Clan won a road game in regulation time. Their recent victories in Fife and Nottingham were both in overtime

0.23

Percentage difference between Coventry’s CJ Motte and Clan’s Shane Starrett in save percentage for the season so far. Starrett (91.65%) just edges his Blaze counterpart (91.42%) in this category.