COVENTRY Blaze crushed Guildford Flames 6-1 at home in the Challenge Cup as a response to a crushing 5-0 loss on the road at Cardiff Devils.
At Vindico Arena, Brandon Alderson defeated former Cardiff goalie Taran Kozun in the Blaze net at 4:41 during the powerplay, making the Blaze no match for the Devils.
Ben Bowns, a Great Britain international, made a couple of crucial stops to keep Cardiff ahead before Riley Brandt doubled the Devils’ lead at 22.17 early in the second half.
And Cody Donaghey gave Cardiff a bigger lead at 29.51. Trevor Cox then made it four at 44.31, and Tyler Busch’s powerplay at 48.29 brought the score to four goals.
But at the Skydome Arena, Blaze delivered the ideal response, hitting Guildford for six to secure a crucial two points.
After spotting a pass behind the Flames net and putting the ball past Eamon McAdam in the Guildford goal, Nathan Ripley opened the score at 7:41.
Ryan Tait gave the visitors an equalizer at 12:52, but former Flames forward Ian McNulty gave the home team the lead back at 13:44 when he scored on a powerplay off a feed from Brady Norrish.
Blaze took the lead at 22.01 when Ripley scored his second of the match, and at 23.11 when Cole Donhauser scored his first goal as a professional.
And at 25.48, Ripley scored his first-ever professional hat-trick. Then, at 38.20, Blaze captain Norrish scored the game’s final goal on the powerplay, capping the victory.
As Blaze’s British players Jack Hopkins and Archie Hazeldine dropped the gloves with Flames players Anthony Petruzzelli and Matt Alvaro, respectively, tensions erupted in the third period.
But Coventry claimed a commanding victory with no more goals scored.
