Steelers and Blaze meet in Elite League Playoff final

Ben Arnt scored the winning penalty shot as Coventry Blaze booked a place in the final with victory over Belfast Giants.

The game ended 2-2 and Arnt was the only successful player in the shootout, as Netminder of the Year Brian Stewart stopped all three efforts from Belfast.

The Giants took the lead at 11:21 as Jeff Mason shot through traffic for his eighth goal of the season. Coventry's leveller came through the use of the video replay, which showed that Justin DaCosta's shot went in and out through the side of the net only 29 seconds later.

But Belfast went in front again when Ray Sawada tipped home on 29 minutes.

Coventry grabbed a second equaliser as Jereme Tendler was left all alone at the back door on 41:52.

After a 10-minute four-on-four scoreless overtime period, Arnt stepped up in the shootout to send Coventry into the final.

Earlier, Mathieu Roy scored with only four seconds remaining to book Sheffield Steelers a place in the playoff final with a 3-2 victory over Hull Stingrays.

A dramatic semi-final at the National Ice Centre swung one way then the other, as Hull missed out on a place in the final in the most dramatic fashion and allowed Steelers to push for the Double, having already won the Elite League championship.

After Robert Dowd had a goal disallowed for a high stick, Hull took the lead through Eric Galbraith's blast from right point on 31 minutes. Sheffield hit back with two goals in three minutes as Darrell Hay's shot through traffic on the powerplay on 34 minutes was followed by Colton Fretter netting three minutes later.

The Stingrays levelled at 48:40 through Cory Tanaka to set up a tense finish.

Omar Pacha was called for holding with 31 seconds left on the clock and Roy took advantage to slot the puck home low on the doorstep on 59:56 to break Hull's hearts and send the Steelers into their second successive playoff final.