And they lost their place at the summit to the Blaze because they haven’t won as many games in regulation time.
The first period turned out to be a disaster for the home side.
It didn’t help that referee Andy Carson harshly penalised them three times in the opening two minutes . . . handing the momentum to the visitors who capitalised immediately.
On their first powerplay, Curtis Huppe sent the puck high into the roof of the Vipers’ net after just one minute. Later, Carson angered the Vipers again by awarding the Blaze a fifth goal moments after the home side had got back to 2-4.
Coach Rob Wilson described Carson’s performance as ‘absolutely disgraceful’ and said he’d made a formal complaint.
After conceding the first goal, the Vipers handed the Blaze two further opportunities.
Hot-shot Adam Calder’s wrist shot flew over netminder Ryan MacDonald’s left shoulder.
Then Danny Stewart went one-on-one with MacDonald.
The netminder managed to get his left leg behind the shot, but couldn’t prevent the puck crossing the line.
The Vipers went further behind on 25 minutes as KC Timmons scored.
The Vipers made the scoreline a little more respectable on 35 minutes as Colin Shields battered the puck into the net.
Then at the start of the final period defenceman Ben Storey shot low from point to score.
But less than a minute later, the Blaze hit back and again the home crowd was baying for Carson’s blood after Huppe netted his second during a scramble around the crease.
The Blaze hit their sixth through Dan Carlson.
VIPERS: Shields 1+1; Storey 1+0; Campbell, Jackson and Longstaff 0+1.
COVENTRY BLAZE: Huppe 2+1; Carlson 1+2; Calder, Stewart and Timmons 1+0; Cloutier 0+4; Cowley 0+2; Koenig and Soderstom 0+1.
