GAME REPORT: Clan fail to extinguish Blaze

NEXT HOME GAME: We’re back in action on home ice NEXT SATURDAY when Pete Russell’s former team, the Milton Keynes Lightning come to Braehead Arena (7:00pm face-off). Tickets are available right now online HERE, by calling 0844 499 1700 or direct at the Braehead Arena box office (Thursday 12 noon to 9pm, Friday 12 noon to 5pm and Saturday 10am to face-off).

Glasgow Clan’s three-game unbeaten run came to an end as Coventry Blaze took the points in a 5-3 win.

After last night’s 6-3 win over Nottingham Panthers, Pete Russell and his team were hopeful of adding to that, but it wasn’t to be as Blaze did the business on the night.

Clan got the better of the early exchanges as Matt Haywood opened his scoring account of the season in impressive fashion.

He took the puck on the right, dinked it off the boards, dashing past Jake Hansen as he picked it up, skated forward and smashed a fabulous shot into the Blaze net.

Coventry were back on level terms a few minutes later when Luke Ferrara was on hand to assist Alex Forbes, who slotted home a low effort.

Clan retook the lead early in the second period when Matt Beca got his first goal of the season, drifting in from the left and rounding Blaze goalie Miroslav Kopriva.

However Danny Stewart’s men started to get a foothold on the game and were ahead by the end of the middle period after three goals turned the contest in their favour.

A Trey Lewis shot was deflected in by Ben Lake as the Blaze evened things up, quickly followed by Kevin Morris putting them ahead from a Kelin Ainsworth pass from the right.

Ainsworth went from provider to scorer with Coventry’s fourth, poking in Jake Hansen’s pass and the visitors were the happier team after 40 minutes.

Josh Gratton pulled Glasgow to within one with a drilled effort, coming in from the right as hopes were raised of a comeback.

But Morris’ second killed the Clan off with ten minutes as Blaze recorded their first road of the season.