The 2026 Elite League Playoff Finals Weekend gets underway with the Semi-Final matchups as Cardiff Devils, Sheffield Steelers, Manchester Storm, and Glasgow Clan battle it out for a place in Sunday’s Final.
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With two different trophy winners already this season and two lower seeds making it through, this year’s Final Four is perfectly set up to crown a third.
Cardiff Devils arrive in Nottingham as the highest-seeded team, looking to go one better than last season’s Finals Weekend defeat. A composed 6-2 aggregate win over Coventry Blaze set up their appearance in the 3pm semi-final against Glasgow. Clan produced one of the most memorable playoff upsets in recent years. The eighth seed knocked out league champions Belfast Giants in a dramatic shootout and arrive with momentum after an excellent outing against the league champions last weekend.
At 7pm, Sheffield Steelers, now seeded second for the weekend, take on a Manchester Storm side making their first-ever Finals Weekend appearance. Sheffield come into the game in dominant fashion after a convincing 6-2 aggregate win over Guildford Flames. After a tight first leg, the Steelers exploded offensively in the return fixture, showcasing their depth and scoring ability. With recent Finals Weekend success in 2024, they know exactly what it takes at this stage. Manchester, however, have built their season on resilience. Their Quarter-Final win over Nottingham Panthers had everything—late drama, momentum swings, overtime, and ultimately a shootout victory. Storm have consistently found ways to win tight games, and their confidence will be sky-high after reaching this stage for the first time.
Photo: James Assinder
