Match Preview: Storm head into the Blaze
TICKETS: The Go Goodwin’s Manchester Storm are back in ELITE LEAGUE ACTION this Saturday 10th September vs the Cardiff Devils! Tickets can be ordered online or by calling the box office on 0161 926 8782, or in person at the box office.
A week since we began our pre-season, your Manchester Storm round it off this evening, as we take the Go Goodwins coach down the M6 to Coventry for a 7:30 pm faceoff against the Blaze, at the Planet Ice SkyDome!
Since the back-and-forth 7-6 victory at the Storm Shelter last Wednesday, where the Blaze scored 2 goals in the last 2 minutes before a Brett Robison overtime game-winning goal, Coventry have suffered a 7-6 loss in Cardiff in a pre-season game, followed by a 3-1 win in the Challenge Cup over the Nottingham Panthers.
Blaze’s games so far this season have been close affairs, with Sunday’s victory over the Panthers being the first game that has seen a winning margin of greater than a single goal. In that game, goals from Bombis, Jorgensen, and Godfrey secured the victory with Blaze netminder Brian Stewart stopping 34 out of 35 shots. A late skate issue for Stewart saw Renny Marr take over in nets, and it is likely that Marr will see significant icetime in this final pre-season match.
Meanwhile your Go Goodwins Manchester Storm will be looking to bounce back after Sunday’s close 6-4 loss against the Steelers in Sheffield, as Coach Pacha and your Storm will want to carry a winning momentum into Saturday’s home game against the Cardiff Devils (7pm F/O).
This game provides the final opportunity for both teams to experiment with lines and combinations before the season starts in earnest this weekend. If this game is anything like last Wednesday’s, then fans will be in for a treat, with both teams playing free-flowing end-to-end hockey.
ONE TO WATCH: German forward Bjorn Bombis has been the Blaze’s top scorer during their pre-season campaign and he followed this up with a goal last Sunday against the Panthers. His partnership with Matt Marquardt has proved fruitful already this season.
MATCH DETAILS:
