COVENTRY Blaze stunned Belfast Giants to claim a 9-5 aggregate victory and reach the Challenge Cup final.
Blaze claimed a 6-3 second leg victory in the rearranged tie to book their place in the Challenge Cup final for the first time since the 2006/07 campaign.
Coventry will play Nottingham Panthers in the final of the competition on Wednesday, March 18 with the face-off at 7.30pm at Motorpoint Arena.
Blaze came into the second leg clash with a one-goal advantage following a 3-2 first leg victory in Coventry.
And the visitors made a strong start as Giants netminder Jake Kupsky made a series of fine saves before Belfast spurned the game’s first powerplay opportunity.
However, Belfast levelled the game on aggregate at 10.42 when Carsen Twarynski finished into an open net after Brandon Whistle produced a toe drag to evade the Blaze defence.
Coventry responded at 17.36 as Matthew Gleason capitalised on a defensive error to win the race to a loose puck and break clear before finding the net.
Gleason almost doubled his tally for the game on the powerplay early in the second period only for Kupsky to make a crucial save.
However, Belfast could not deny Gleason his second of the game at 30.34 as he reacted quickest to fire a loose puck through traffic and stretch Coventry’s aggregate lead.
And Blaze moved three goals ahead on aggregate at 36.12 as Jere Vertanen’s shot beat Kupsky to leave the home side stunned.
Coventry took full control of the tie in the third period at 43.47 when Alessio Luciani converted on a breakaway to give the visitors a four-goal cushion.
The Giants threatened a late comeback as Ryan Smith pulled a goal back at 53.22 with less than seven minutes left to play.
Belfast pulled netminder Kupsky for an extra skater with five minutes remaining and the gamble paid off at 55.16 when Twarynski grabbed his second of the game.
Blaze still held a two-goal aggregate lead and Grayston Constable finished into an empty net at 56.04 to dash Belfast’s comeback hopes.
The home side pulled Kupsky again in the closing stages only for Colton Saucerman to fire into an empty net with nine seconds remaining to seal Blaze’s place in the final.
Coventry are next in action against Sheffield Steelers on Saturday, March 7 with the face-off at 7pm at Utilita Arena.
Blaze then host Nottingham Panthers on Sunday, March 8 with the face-off at 5.30pm at the Skydome Arena.
