A Jekyll-and-Hyde-esque performance from the Storm saw them fall 6-2 to the Coventry Blaze, as the visitors overturned a two-goal deficit to score six unanswered goals.

An exceptional, eyes-in-the-back-of-his-head pass from Esteves below the goal line found Durflinger, who smashed it home from point-blank range in the 9th minute. The white-hot Triple H line combined to good effect once again, as Hebert’s deft deflection doubled the Storm’s advantage just a minute later. The hosts thought they had their third goal of the period, only for it to be disallowed after a lengthy review for goaltender interference. A resulting penalty shot awarded to Manchester went unconverted by D’Aoust, and the Storm remained two goals ahead despite their dominance.

The middle period saw a complete reversal, as the Blaze scored on the power play through the lively Alderson after 28 minutes. A clever top-shelf finish from Jurgens on the rush levelled proceedings in the 36th minute, with Coventry appearing entirely transformed from their first-period selves. The visitors took their first lead of the game in the 39th minute, as Cressey was quickest to the rebound after Weninger made an impressive initial save.

The final stanza continued in a similar vein to the second, with Coventry piling on the pressure and adding three more goals in the first ten minutes of the period through Constable, Heintz, and Seltz. A shellshocked Storm struggled to recapture their early form, with no further scoring opportunities created in the closing moments of the match.

Words by: Callum Schora