Giants so close to being slayed before Blaze pay penalty

THE Genting Casino Coventry Blaze came within 18 seconds of victory, only to have to settle for a point from a 4-3 penalty-shots defeat to the Belfast Giants.

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The Blaze had led 3-2 after two goals from Matthew Gleason and one from Elijah Barriga at the SSE Arena on Friday until the last-gasp drama.

The Blaze roster was boosted by the debut of American forward Adam Robbins, but they continued to be without standout goalie Mat Robson and influential forward pair Grayson Constable and Alessio Luciani.

Coventry made the perfect start, scoring after just 43 seconds when Jack Hopkins found Gleason out in front of the net of Alexis Gravel, and he finished expertly past the Giants goalie.