Coventry Blaze's first of three-game in Scotland started with a 3-0 defeat at Dundee Stars
A stormy Elite League game saw the first fight kick off after just 35 seconds when the Blaze's Kevin Harvey and the Star' Brock McPherson started scrapping and both received five-minute penalties for fighting.
Mike Wirll fired the Stars ahead on 6.43 and then added a second on 13.55 before Adam Henrich received a game ban for being the third man in, following another fight.
On 31.18, Bari McKenzie scored on the powerplay to make it 3-0 and although the Stars netminder Dan Bakala was kept busy, Coventry were beaten.
Coach Matt Soderstrom said to the Blaze website after the game: "That is the worst game I have seen all year. We could not make a tape-to-tape pass and I don’t know how many turnovers we made.
"The first two goals we created for them and then individuals started doing their own thing. It’s a team game and you have to stick with the system.
"Zach had a great game but we left him hanging to dry at times. We had a load of good chances ourselves but he is a good goalie.
"Apart from Zach, I thought Ross Venus was our best player. He has really stepped it up. We knew the talent he had and his capabilities.
"He is playing with confidence and his work-rate has been fantastic all season. I benched a couple of imports towards the end and played Venus. He deserved it and he will get his reward."