Saturday, November 30 2008
Elite League: Coventry Blaze 9-2 Mincoffs Newcastle Vipers

FOR the second night running, the Vipers threw away a lead and fell to a heavy defeat in the Midlands as the Coventry Blaze ran out 9-2 victors at the Skydome.

Blaze had been on a three game losing run when the Vipers arrived at their barn on the back of Saturday’s reverse at Nottingham.

A double minor powerplay allowed the Vipers to taking advantage as David Longstaff fired them ahead after 5.25, but Blaze were level at 7.24 with a strike by Ben O'Connor.

The home side then took a first period lead at 16.07 with a powerplay counter by Carlyle Lewis.

The second period was all Blaze as they put the game completely out of Vipers' reach. Barrie Moore started it all off at 21.13 and further goals came from Sylvain Deschatelets at 25.12, Russell Cowley at 31.04 and Deschatelets again at 31.44 on the powerplay, with this strike seeing the end of Andrew Verner in the Vipers cage.

Vipers quickly pulled one back at 33.12 through Derek Campbell but the home side took only eight seconds to go 7-2 in front as Deschatelets completed his hat trick.

Blaze wrapped up a comprehensive win with third period counters by Adam Calder at 46.51 and Scott Kelman at 57.22 before frustrations in the visitors camp saw Derek Campbell ejected on a game misconduct at 57.32.