COVENTRY Blaze sealed a fifth-place finish in the Elite League to set up a play-off quarter-final against Cardiff Devils.
Blaze ended the regular season in fine form, securing five straight victories, after beating the Devils 2-1 in overtime at the Vindico Arena.
And Coventry then won 4-3 against Sheffield Steelers at the Skydome Arena to end the Yorkshire club’s hopes of winning back-to-back league titles.
Kevin Moore’s side enjoyed the perfect preparation for their two-legged play-off against Cardiff after beating the Devils in their penultimate game of the season.
After a goalless first period, Josh MacDonald put the Devils ahead at 24.44 on the powerplay.
However, Blaze drew level at 47.55 as Jackson Cressey fired home on a five-on-three advantage.
The game went to overtime and Blaze secured a vital win with just seven seconds remaining as Cressey teed up Nick Seitz to score the game-deciding goal.
Back on home ice, Coventry celebrated their 25th anniversary in the city with a dramatic victory against title-chasing Sheffield.
Sheffield needed to beat Blaze and hope Belfast Giants slipped up against Nottingham Panthers to become champions.
However, Coventry made a blistering start as Brady Pouteau opened the scoring with a blast from the blue line at 2.50 before Seitz struck just 30 seconds later.
The visitors responded with a quickfire double of their own as Samuel Tremblay cut the deficit at 3.56 and Mitchell Balmas netted at 8.35 in a remarkable opening to the match.
And the Steelers completed the turnaround at 26.16 when Daniel Ciampini found the net.
However, Blaze levelled the game at 28.20 as Terrance Amorosa caught Steelers netminder Matthew Greenfield off guard.
And Coventry reclaimed the lead at 56.39 when Chase Gresock fired the puck past Greenfield to end Sheffield’s title hopes.
Sheffield pulled Greenfield for an extra skater in the final minute as Blaze stood firm to close out the regular season in style.
Elsewhere, Belfast beat Nottingham in overtime to end the regular season top of the table.
Coventry host Cardiff in the first leg of their play-off quarter-final on Saturday, April 12 with the face-off at 7pm at the Skydome.
Blaze then travel to Cardiff on Sunday, April 13 with the face-off at 6pm at the Vindico Arena.
