Match Centre: https://www.coventrynihlblaze.com/match-centre

Our second game of pre-season and our second game at home as we welcomed the Invicta Mustangs of the NIHL2 South Division. After a win in our first pre-season game, we were looking for more of the same result but a bettered performance.

A big physical game to start, a number of big hits and a multitude of penalties not only throughout the first period, but in the game. There would be ten penalties before the first goal, which came on the powerplay for the visitors. Jake Stedman would steal the puck in centre ice before pulling two nice moves and burying it in the far top corner, 0-1.

Similarly to lat week, it would take nearly all of the first period to find a response but it would come with under a minute to go. Reuben Sweenie-Fuller, with his first senior goal, would wind one up off an offensive zone draw, a few bounces, but it would find it's way in, with the assist going to Ethan Wheeldon, who won the draw. The first twenty would finish 1-1.

We were looking for a better second period but that idea was halted by an early Mustangs goal, only 1:48 into the period. Samuel Oliver would give the visitors their second lead of the game. However, it would only take four minutes for a response.

A mix up behind the Mustangs net would fall kindly to Sumner, who would fool the netminder and force it in and it would be 2-2.

Thirty seconds later, we would be behind again. A nice play up the wall would lead to a two-on-two with the Mustangs Edward Stedman getting his stick on the end of a Ferris pass and the visitors would be up by one, once again, 2-3.

Five minutes later, another powerplay goal for the NIHL Blaze would tie the game up for the third time. Mellett from Oliver Harris would make it evens just after the halfway point of the game.

Just under two minutes later, we would grab our first lead of the game. Another goal from Mellett on the powerplay after a nice play from Gavigan to Nash, would find Mellett all alone in front and we would lead headed into the final stanza.

A two goal lead would come before the mid-point of the third period. A huge block from Ashton Rudkin would send him away behind the Mustangs defence and a tidy finish up over the replacement netminder, Heath Pretince, for a 5-3 lead.

It would take all but twenty-one seconds for a Mustangs reply. A nice play off the wall would leave Laverick stranded and thanks to a tidy finish from Bradley Gutridge it would be a one goal game, 5-4.

A final goal and an insurance goal from the NIHL Blaze would be for a Mellett Hatrick on a five-on-three powerplay, from Gavigan, would seal another pre-season victory. Two-for-two in pre-season.