Sheffield Steelers have been crowned Elite League play-off champions following a 2-0 victory over Coventry Blaze at the National Ice Centre.

Since lifting the trophy in 2004, Steelers suffered successive semi-final defeats to Coventry and Newcastle Vipers before missing out on the final four altogether last season, but have now ended a trophy drought which stretched back to the British Knockout Cup in 2006.

Steelers took a deserved lead when Jonathan Phillips fired home with a neat finish in the 14th minute.

They doubled their advantage in the 36th minute on the powerplay. Jeff Legue's shot was tipped onto the Plexiglas by Blaze goaltender Trevor Koenig but the rebound fell to Dan Tessier, who slotted home.

Curtis Huppe nearly hauled Blaze back in the game with nine seconds of the second period remaining but he saw his shot hit the post.

Steelers goaltender Jody Lehman made a stunning double save to deny Russell Cowley and Danny Stewart late on as he posted a fine shut-out.

It was no more than Steelers deserved while Blaze, the league champions and British Knockout Cup holders, fell at the final hurdle.

Steelers dominated a penalty-strewn first period and should have been leading by more than just the one goal.

Koenig made a string of fine saves to keep out Legue, Joey Talbot and Rod Sarich while Tessier should have done better when he fired wide when well placed.

Koenig survived a scare in midway through the first period when he lost the puck behind the net but Legue could only shoot wide.

Suddenly, Blaze hit Steelers on the break and Lehman made an excellent save to keep out Jonathan Weaver and then foiled Dan Carlson.

But it was no surprise when Steelers took the lead through Phillips and he nearly added a second but Koenig stood firm.

Martin did superbly well to knock the puck away from the waiting Doug Sheppard right in front of the net.

Steelers had to kill a few penalties at the start of the second period with Weaver and Martin thwarted while the latter also shot wide from right in front of the net.

But with Steelers on the powerplay, Tessier extended the lead with an opportunistic strike.

As Blaze tried to get back into the game, Lehman denied Carlson, Sylvain Cloutier and Martin while Talbot hit the post for Steelers.

With 90 seconds left, Blaze called a time-out and then pulled Koenig but Steelers stood firm before celebrating a well-deserved win.

Steelers coach David Matsos hailed "a perfect game".

Matsos said: "It's an unreal feeling. We were a close contender in the league and the Challenge Cup but this is sweet.

"I have been on the winning side in the play-offs before and now we can savour this one all summer. Winning the last game of the season against the best team this year, we played a perfect game.

"They are the highest scorers in the league and have a star-studded line-up but the guys came and dominated for 60 minutes.

"We have played a lot of good games this year but we saved the best until last."

Matsos also praised his side's penalty killing as Blaze - the best powerplay unit this season - failed to score from their five attempts.

He added: "The penalty killing was probably the best I have seen it. They have an all-Star line-up on their powerplay but these guys shut them down and they could not get going.

"We won all the battles and they started to get off their game. They didn't like to be hit, they didn't like to be out-worked and they started to get away from their game-plan."

Coventry coach Paul Thompson admitted Steelers deserved to win.

He said: "We did not bring our best game but that's taking nothing away from Sheffield because they did.

"In the first period we didn't match their intensity and it took us until the second period to start to get to grips with that.

"We had our powerplay chances in the second period but unfortunately the thing that has probably been the big key to us winning the league this year didn't click.

"Everyone knows that is our big weapon and you just have to look at how many goals we have scored on the powerplay this year.

"In the third period we were pushing and pushing but it was not to be. We didn't score and when you don't score you don't deserve to win."

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