Coventry Blaze beat Sheffield Steelers to claim the play-off title

Coventry Blaze have been crowned Elite League play-off champions after beating Sheffield Steelers 4-2 at the National Ice Centre.

It was a first title in 10 years for Coventry, who were only ninth when experienced coach Chuck Weber arrived in mid-December, after which they embarked on a sensational run which culminated in victory over the defending champions.

Steven Goertzen, who captained Steelers to the play-off title last season, is now with the Blaze and shot over early on, before opening the scoring from the next play.

Russell Cowley then had an opportunity to double the lead on a breakaway but Steelers goaltender Josh Unice foiled him.

Steelers began to come into the game after that and, on the first powerplay of the match, Blaze goaltender Brian Stewart saved from Mike Forney, who then squandered a close-range chance.

Stewart was the league’s netminder of the year and he also saved well from player of the year Mathieu Roy.

And Jereme Tendler then doubled Blaze's lead just 29 seconds into the middle session, before Stewart made a superlative flying save from Tyler Mosienko.

Blaze forward Ryan O'Marra tapped a chance wide but Ross Venus capitalised on an error in the Steelers' defence to produce a composed finish at 29.17.

And skipper Ashley Tait, who netted the overtime winner when Blaze last lifted the trophy in 2005, made it 4-0 at 30.44 after an Unice mistake.

The Steelers pulled one back in bizarre fashion when Roy kicked away Stewart’s stick and then tapped the puck into the empty net as the Canadian goalie desperately tried to get back.

And Roy then notched his 46th marker of the season when he reacted first to a loose puck at 47.03.

Coventry squandered a great chance for a fifth goal, Unice saving a Cale Tanaka penalty shot at 56.24.

But the Blaze held on to complete a memorable win, while Belfast Giants finished third, having defeated Hull Stingrays 8-6 earlier in the day.