Genting Casino Coventry Blaze progressed to the Elite League play-off finals weekend courtesy of a 2-1 win over Nottingham Panthers at the Skydome.
Going into the second leg tied at 3-3, the victory ensured Blaze prevailed 5-4 on aggregate as they advanced to the last four for the second time in three years.
They will now meet Belfast Giants in the second semi-final, with league champions Sheffield Steelers facing Hull Stingrays in the other tie. 
Blaze, who had Jereme Tendler back in the line-up with Cale Tanaka sitting out, made a flying start and were 2-0 up inside six minutes.
Captain Ashley Tait scored the go-ahead goal at 3.38 with Craig Cescon adding a second 99 seconds later.
Cody Wild pulled a goal back for Panthers at 29.53 before Steven Goertzen was unable to convert a penalty shot at 48.19 which would have restored Blaze’s two-goal advantage.
But Blaze, who last lifted the play-off trophy in their Grand Slam-winning 2004/05 season, closed the game out and goaltender Brian Stewart made 37 saves as they booked a date in Nottingham next weekend.
Coach Chuck Weber said: “It is a great feeling but the big thing was we played to our identity, we scratched and clawed and were solid defensively.
“We got off to a great start, Stewie made some big saves for us and our PK was really good. I could not be more proud. I have been really hard on them for the last five games of the regular season but they raised their game to another level in this series.
“Nottingham are a talented team with a lot of weapons but we stuck to our structure, we made sacrifices, we played the right way and we got the result we wanted.
“Belfast are another team who are as skilled as they come. The last time we played them they had a guy who has played in the NHL [Kevin Westgarth] as a healthy scratch so that’s shows you how deep that team is.
“It is going to be another huge challenge for us. We will put in the work this week to make sure we are prepared and it is going to be exciting for everyone. It is up to us to keep the ball rolling.”
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