Dundee Stars’ hopes of equalling their points total for the whole of last season were delayed last night as Coventry Blaze won 5-1 at Dundee Ice Arena.
The resurgent Midlands side completed a quick-fire win double over the Tayside team and extended their recent winning run to three.
The road win takes ninth-placed Blaze level on points with misfiring Edinburgh Capitals while Dundee remain fifth.
The home defeat will be a big blow to Stars’ coach Marc Lefebvre ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Braehead.
Coventry, who edged Stars 4-3 after penalty shots on Saturday, took a 2-0 lead on Wednesday night.
Blaze went ahead after nine minutes when right-wing Jordan Pietrus netted with former Braehead Clan star Neil Trimm involved in the move. And left-wing Josh Godfrey made it 2-0 on the power play after 33 minutes.
Stars responded after 45 minutes later when defenceman Martins Porejs scored on the power play with Justin Faryna and David Turon assisting.
But the home fans’ joy was short-lived as only 41 seconds later Blaze restored their two-goal advantage.
Centre ice Carl Lauzon, the club’s joint top scorer, provided the finishing touch after being set-up by Trimm, who leads the club in assists, and another former Clan star, James Jorgensen.
Four minutes later Pietrus scored his second to make it 4-1 to Blaze and Lauzon claimed the fifth with less than six minutes left.
Elsewhere, Belfast Giants edged league pace-setters Cardiff Devils 2-0 with Brandon Benedict and former Fife defenceman Matt Nickerson on target.