Motte shines on debut for red-hot Blaze
THE Genting Casino Coventry Blaze gave their supporters the perfect early Christmas present with a comprehensive 8-3 win over the Guildford Flames on Sunday at the Skydome Arena.
New American netminder CJ Motte Motte also enjoyed a memorable home debut, being named Blaze man of the match after saving 36 of 39 shots in the Elite League contest.
The Blaze made an energetic start took the lead after just 63 seconds when leading goalscorer Luke Ferrara netted his 20th goal of the season in all EIHL competitions.
Although they failed to convert a five-on-three powerplay into another goal, the Blaze extended their lead when Matt Pohlkamp tipped a Dillon Lawrence shot past Peeters at 10.32 and three minutes later Pohlkamp fired the puck home from right in front of the net at 13.42 for 3-0.
But the home side suffered a setback later in the period when captain Drew Schiestel was hurt blocking a shot on the penalty kill and took no further part in the game.
The Blaze made a quick start to the second period and added a fourth goal on 21.30 when Chris Pohlkamp joined his older brother on the scoresheet, firing home a rocket from just inside the blue line before Janne Laakkonen (26.44) tucked home a rebound from a Ferrara shot.
The Blaze quickly make it 6-0 through Dillon Lawrence (40.59) and though the Flames replaced netminder Wouter Peeters with Mike Will he was beaten just 11 seconds after the switch when a shot from Andrew Johnston somehow made it into the Flames net at 41.10.
The Flames finally broke Motte’s shutout at 42.44 when Cam Braes scored, and added a second less than two minutes late when Calle Ackered rifled home a bullet of a shot on the powerplay.
Johnston added the Blaze’s eighth at 52.18 before the Flames scored a late consolation goal through Brett Ferguson at 59.29, despite the protests of Motte and the Blaze bench that the puck had been kicked in.
The Blaze return to action with a Boxing Day trip to Nottingham Panthers (4pm) before heading back to the Skydome for the return on Saturday (7pm).