Coventry Blaze coach Paul Thompson has hailed Luke Fulghum for scoring the winning goal in overtime against the Edinburgh Capitals.
Winger keeps Blaze on top with OT winner
Coventry Blaze coach Paul Thompson has hailed Luke Fulghum for scoring the winning goal in overtime against the Edinburgh Capitals on Sunday night.
Fulghum beat Edinburgh goalie Cody Rudkowksy to break a 5-5 tie as the Blaze came through against their bogey team.
Having lost back-to-back games against Cardiff and Nottingham, title favourites Coventry needed a result and it was Fulghum who came through.
"Luke's been fantastic for us, he's been scoring at will," Thompson told
skysports.com.
"I wanted to bring in someone who could take the pressure off Adam Calder and he's done that. Last year when teams shut down Calder we were struggling to create offense on the other lines.
"But this year we've got two first lines that can create that and Luke's been a terrific pick-up for us and has made a great contribution to our team."
Threat
Fulghum, the EIHL's top marksman with 45 goals, also opened the scoring in regulation and chipped in with a couple of assists, while his team-mate Derek Campbell netted twice.
The victory over the Caps extends Coventry's lead to three points over second-ranked Belfast with the Blaze holding a game in hand.
Fulghum, 29, joined the Blaze from Manchester Phoenix, where he starred on the league's most powerful line alongside Tony Hand and David Beauregard.
Although Beauregard received more plaudits because of his goal tally, Thompson saw Fulghum as the biggest threat.
"Last season when he played for Manchester, I thought Luke was the one that gave us more trouble on that line than Beauregard and Tony," Thompson added.
"I like the way he plays, the way he can attack a defenceman and his shots. He's a strong boy and he's often been playing with Carlson and Chambers, who can get him the puck in the right areas."
