MANCHESTER Storm’s recent winning run came to an end on Sunday when they lost 4-3 at home to Coventry Blaze in overtime.

Storm made it five consecutive wins at home to Guildford last Wednesday and moved into the Elite Hockey League play-off places for the first time this season.

Goals from skipper Dane Byers, Chance Braid and Ciaran Long saw off a spirited Flames team and head coach Ryan Finnerty was full of praise for his players.

He said: "We are now playing well and all the players are looking for time on the ice.

"Our netminder, Matt Ginn, has been in excellent form all season and now we have the defence and offensive  lines playing well, we are picking up valuable game points.

"We are picking up points on the road too.”

The Guildford win was followed by a trip to Coventry on Saturday evening and Storm ran out 6-2 winners against Blaze with goals from Byers, Rob Linsmayer, Harrison Ruopp, Luke Moffatt, Evan Richardson and Logan McMillan.

Defeat on Sunday came after Storm had taken a two-goal lead but Blaze took advantage of the Storm players' fatigue after four games in eight days.

Long, Byers and Dallas Ehrhardt scored Storm’s goals.

Storm are now in eighth place with 40 points, two behind Glasgow in fifth.

This weekend Storm travel north on Saturday to play in-form Dundee Stars who are coached by former Storm man Omar Pacha.

On Sunday, Storm return to Altrincham to play Sheffield Steelers in front of an expected big crowd at the Storm Shelter.