Coventry Blaze win Elite League play-off final

Victory caps remarkable turnaround for Blaze under Chuck Weber



Coventry Blaze beat Sheffield Steelers 4-2 to win the 2015 play-offs and take their first post-season title since 2005.

It capped a remarkable turnaround for Blaze, who were out of the play-offs earlier in the season but have been one of the form teams since the experienced Chuck Weber took over at the Skydome.

Blaze went ahead at 3:01 with former Steeler Steve Goertzen scoring in the slot and Jereme Tendler made it 2-0 only 29 seconds into the second period from a rebound on the doorstep.

Ross Venus netted superbly on a breakaway at 29:17 and Ashley Tait, who scored the overtime game-winner in the 2005 final against Nottingham Panthers, grabbed the fourth from just in front of the net (30:44).

Mathieu Roy scored into an unguarded net (43:26) to give Steelers hope after netminder Brian Stewart went to retrieve his stick and was caught out of position.

And the Elite League's Player of the Year reacted first to a loose puck to bring Sheffield to within two (46:03).

Cale Tanaka saw his penalty-shot saved by Josh Unice to ensure a tense finish, but Coventry hung on for a famous victory.

Earlier in the day, Belfast Giants beat Hull Stingrays 8-6 in the third v fourth-placed match.