Coventry, Cardiff and Nottingham all celebrated away victories in their opening clashes of the 2012/13 season.
Travellers on top as 2012/13 ice hockey campaigns get underway
The 2012/13 season began in earnest on Friday night with, Coventry, Cardiff and Nottingham all celebrating away victories in their opening clashes.
Blaze came out on top 3-2 after a penalty shootout in Dundee, while the Devils and the Panthers both triumphed 4-2 in Sheffield and Hull respectively.
There were also home on opening night wins for Braehead Clan who beat Belfast Giants 3-2, and Fife Flyers, who shut out Edinburgh Capitals by two goals to nil.
Coventry Blaze fought back from two goals down to tie their Elite League clash with
Dundee Stars after Matt Baxter Pat Bowen had put the home side in control at the end the second period.
But Greg Leeb and Mike Egner, netted within two minutes of each other during the third to level the scores and take the match to overtime.
With that period failing to produce a winner the match went to a shootout and it was up to Mike Schutte to grab the extra point for Blaze with his winner from the spot
Showdown
Sheffield Steelers came back from a goal behind with two second period strikes to lead their Elite League curtain-raiser against
Cardiff Devils.
But the Steelers had no answer to the Devils in the third period as the visitors hit three without reply to take the spoils.
Drew Fata and Lee Esders had cancelled out Max Birbraer's eighth minute goal to put the home side ahead before Phil Hill equalised and then Stuart MaCrae and Ben Davis sealed the win.
Nottinngham Panthers allowed their hosts back into the game after going two goals up on their trip to the east coast to take on
Hull Stingrays.
Matt Francis and Bruce Graham had put the visitors 2-0 up with a goal each in the first and second period of the Challenge Cup Group B showdown.
But Tomas Valecko and Jason Silverthorn put the Stingrays back on level terms before, with just two minutes remaining, the Panthers struck twice within a minute through Matt Francis and Pat Galivan to clinch the victory.
Pulsating
The home sides a fared better In Saturday's two Challenge Cup Group A clashes with
Braehead Clan coming out on top after a pulsating encounter with
Belfast Giants.
Braehead skipper Ash Goldie scored in the fourth minute to give the hosts an early lead before Robert Farmer doubled the advantage from the powerplay less than two minutes later.
Daymen Rycroft pulled one back for the visitors inside the first minute of the second period but Clan restored their two goal lead through a 50th penalty from Adam Walker.
Robby Sandrock closed the gap to one five minutes later with a powerplay goal but, despite pulling their goaltender the Giants were unable to get the equaliser.
With his side playing host to
Edinburgh Capitals for their Group A clash,
Fife Flyers goaltender Bryan Pitton had plenty to smile about, turning away all 18 shots on him to record his first shutout.
Fife led but just 1-0 at the end of the first period despite out-shooting their opponents by more than four to one, Derek Keller's second minute goal being all that separated the sides.
The home side dominated the second period but remained unable to extend their advantage and it was only as the clock was about to strike 58 minutes that Derek Keller doubled the lead with a powerplay goal to close things out.
