Devils stun Blaze to set up Giants play-off final

CARDIFF Devils stunned league champions Coventry Blaze to book their place in the Elite League play-off final with a storming 6-3 victory in Nottingham.

Devils will now face Belfast Giants, who narrowly lost out in the league to Blaze and beat Nottingham Panthers after penalty shoots.

Cardiff left Blaze reeling after a stunning start with quick-fire strikes from Phil Hill and Matt Miller establishing an early advantage.

League leading scorer Luke Fulghum reduced arrears before strikes from Miller and Hill put Devils further ahead.

Coventry fought back with a Fulghum powerplay strike, his 54th of the season, and a Brad Cruikshank goal.

However, Devils made their progress secure when Jay Latulippe scored. They then added gloss to the scoreline when Max Birbraer swept home after Blaze goalie Peter Hirsch was pulled.

Elsewhere, Giants took an early lead when Panthers goalie Kevin St Pierre.was caught unsighted and Michael Jacobsen fired home.

Giants goalie Stephen Murphy was in impressive form as Panthers surged forward but after a run of fine saves his resistance was broken just over two minutes from the buzzer with Jade Galbraith converting.

Overtime kept the sides deadlocked and Jeff Szwez scored the decisive sudden-death penalty winner.