Cardiff Devils last won the Elite League Play-Offs in 2022 and were beaten finalists 12 months ago [Rebecca Brain]
Cardiff Devils eased into the Elite League Play-Off Finals weekend with a comfortable 4-1 win against Coventry Blaze in the Welsh capital that earned a 6-2 two-leg quarter-final aggregate triumph.
They will face Glasgow Clan in the first semi-final in Nottingham on Saturday, 18 April (15:00 BST) after the Scottish side pulled off a shock 3-2 aggregate win over league champions Belfast Giants following a shootout.
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Devils won the first leg 2-1 at Skydome Arena on Saturday and were in control at Vindico Arena until William Boysen’s late consolation for the visitors.
Kohen Olischefski set the tone for the hosts with the opener timed at 39 seconds and Josh MacDonald added the second.
Joey Martin and Riley Brandt added their names to the scoreboard as Devils led 4-0 on the evening going into the final period.
Boysen’s effort rewarded Blaze, but it was too little too late as their season came to a close.
Belfast’s surprise exit, after a 3-1 second-leg loss in Glasgow, leaves Devils as the top seed for the semi-finals as they look to win a first domestic trophy for four years.
The winner of their semi-final against Clan – who finished eighth in the regular season table – will face either Sheffield Steelers or Manchester Storm in next Sunday’s final.
