Coventry Blaze lifted themselves off the bottom of the Elite League courtesy of a four-point weekend.
Saturday’s home game against Dundee Stars saw the teams tied at 2-2 entering the final minute and when Justin Faryna scored for the visitors it looked like Coventry were heading for defeat.
However, Cale Tanaka tied things up with 36 left seconds to force overtime. Neither side could break the deadlock in the extra session, so the game went to a shoot-out where Neil Trimm scored the only goal to earn Blaze the additional point.
Coventry travelled to Sheffield on Sunday to face a Steelers team looking for their eighth win from their last nine games after Saturday’s 5-2 success at Braehead Clan.
Robert Dowd put the home team in front, but Tanaka made it 1-1 before the end of the first. Josh Godfrey edged Coventry ahead in the middle session, before Russ Moyer restored parity after 46 minutes.
The game looked set for overtime, but Jordan Pietrus’ struck the winner 23 seconds from time to seal a 3-2 victory (check out his post-match interview in the video above).
Cardiff Devils remain top of the table despite a mixed weekend of results.
Tomas Kurka (2) led the way in a 5-3 victory at Nottingham Panthers, but the Welsh club failed to follow up on home ice as they fell 3-1 to Braehead.
Nottingham bounced back at Manchester Storm with a 5-2 win – Chris Lawrence (2) topped their scoring.
TJ Caig scored twice for Fife Flyers in their 5-3 win at home to Manchester, but they couldn’t add a second victory as they allowed Dundee to come from behind to clinch a 5-4 success.
Belfast Giants picked up four-points from their weekend double-header at Edinburgh Capitals – securing 7-2 and 3-1 victories.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Saturday
Braehead Clan 2-5 Sheffield Steelers
Coventry Blaze 4-3 Dundee Stars (SO)
Edinburgh Capitals 2-7 Belfast Giants
Fife Flyers 5-3 Manchester Storm
Nottingham Panthers 3-5 Cardiff Devils
Sunday
Cardiff Devils 1-3 Braehead Clan
Dundee Stars 5-4 Fife Flyers
Edinburgh Capitals 1-3 Belfast Giants
Manchester Storm 2-5 Nottingham Panthers
Sheffield Steelers 2-3 Coventry Blaze
