The Elite League is all set for Playoff Finals Weekend.
But there will be no domestic double for the Belfast Giants or Nottingham Panthers, with the regular-season and Challenge Cup champions eliminated in the playoff quarter-finals.
The Manchester Storm provided the first shock of the night, outlasting the Panthers to win 5-4 on aggregate after a tense shootout.
Hours later, the Glasgow Clan doubled down, overturning a one-goal deficit from the first leg to beat the Belfast Giants on penalties.
Elsewhere, the Cardiff Devils and Sheffield Steelers prevailed against the Coventry Blaze and Guildford Flames, respectively.
Welcome to Around the Rinks, our daily summary of every team’s post-game media remarks.
Around the Rinks: Sunday, 12 April
Glasgow Clan (3) 3-1 (2) Belfast Giants (Shootout)
Nicolas Guay, Belfast Giants (Image: Glasgow Clan)
Mike Sirant, Glasgow Clan:
These fans are the main reason why we were successful tonight: the energy they brought to the rink was incredible and our players just feed off that. On behalf of the entire organisation, thank you to the Purple Army.
I’m so proud of our players. They had a great series and Belfast had a great season. I’m really proud of our guys. It can go either way in a shootout and I’m really proud that we were able to do it.
Yesterday, I spoke about having the chance to create a legacy and we did that. Going to the final four, which Glasgow hasn’t done for a while, is special. We’re not done yet. We’re going to Nottingham with a lot of confidence and we’re proud to be representing the Clan in the final four.
Adam Keefe, Belfast Giants:
They were two very tight games. You could tell that the Clan really wanted it. I thought we were good for 60 of the 120 minutes and we needed to create more offence. Both goaltenders were really good.
When you go down to the shootout, it’s a flip of the coin. We let it get to that point and there’s no one to point fingers at besides from ourselves.
We weren’t very good for the first 30 minutes of each game and Glasgow created more chances. Ultimately, we didn’t create enough to get it done.
Cardiff Devils (6) 4-1 (2) Coventry Blaze
Mat Robson, Coventry Blaze (Image: James Assinder)
Paul Thompson, Cardiff Devils:
I want to thank the fans: what an atmosphere today. Before we even got on the ice, you could feel the buzz. And we could hear then from the bench in Coventry yesterday.
There’s pressure on all of us because we know how much the fans have invested in this weekend: on tickets, on travel, on beer money. And it plays on your mind. I’m glad that we’re there and that our fans can go down to Nottingham with good anticipation.
The players should take a lot of praise of their effort and commitment. [Kristoff] Kontos is on fire right now: he’s picked it up to a new level. And I think every single player has gone up twenty percent.
I’m delighted and we go into the weekend with a good feeling. If you want to win it, you’ve got to beat the big clubs. We’ll have another good week.
Kevin Moore, Coventry Blaze:
I think a lot of credit goes to Cardiff and how tight they were in their structure. We needed to score first and that didn’t happen.
We made too many mental mistakes over the course of the two games and it cost us tonight. I think Cardiff were just really tight and we couldn’t penetrate. Their defensive structure was the difference.
Nottingham Panthers (5) 4-4 (6) Manchester Storm (Shootout)
Drew DeRidder, Manchester Storm (Image: Panthers Images)
Danny Stewart, Nottingham Panthers:
I don’t if breaking down the game period by period is what I want to do right now. I’m just gutted for the guys. They left it all out there. I’m sure, with us being the higher seed, people will doubt the effort, but these guys worked their bags off.
Heading towards the end of the year, we were short on numbers. They came back into the line-up this weekend and left it all out there.
It’s a game of inches. I don’t know how many posts we hit or the possession numbers we had. I want to give Manchester credit: they worked their bags off, won the second pucks, and they’re worthy winners.
That’s not to say that our guys aren’t worthy, but that’s the cruelty of sport. We’ve been on the right side of it this season, but now we’re on the wrong side of it.
I’m proud of the group. I’m gutted for them. There’s a lot of upset guys in there: guys who have probably played their final season and that’s not how you want to go out.
But I can’t fault our effort. I want to thank the fans: you were phenomenal all season. Everything with the organisation is first class. We’ll enjoy our time this week and start building for next year.
Cam Critchlow, Manchester Storm:
It’s tough to find the words right now: what a rollercoaster of emotions that game was.
We knew that Nottingham would come out hard, being down by one, and they did. They had us on our heels a lot, but what can you say about Drew DeRidder? He stopped every shot in the shootout and was lights out the entire season.
For our group, this means a lot: coaches, players, ownership, volunteers. I’m pretty proud of our staff, players, the entire organisation. It’s a big hurdle for us to get over.
That being said, we didn’t just come to get into the final four weekend. We want to be in the mix.
I admire Omar [Pacha], Danny Stewart, and all the staff and players in Nottingham. We’re trying to go where Nottingham have been in the past few years and this is a good step in the right direction.
Sheffield Steelers (6) 5-1 (2) Guildford Flames
Dominic Cormier, Sheffield Steelers (Image: Dean Woolley)
Aaron Fox, Sheffield Steelers:
It was a big weekend for us: we know that the end of the season didn’t go how we hoped, but we showed the team that we are in this this 120-minute stretch of hockey.
We were relentless all weekend: we got pucks deep and forced them to play a 200-foot game. We did all the little things that you need to do.
Paul Dixon, Guildford Flames:
It was tough for us, but the best team won. It’s disappointing, we were on a really great run of games towards the end of the season, but Sheffield were just on it today.
I thought we were just chasing shadows in the first period. We looked a little bit nervous.
Sometimes, you have to come on here and say it how it is: we were beaten by the better team. It was a tough night for us and it just didn’t happen.
It’s a shame to end this way. But I can’t take anything away from our group. The work ethic and commitment they’ve shown the club since Christmas has been fantastic.
We wish Sheffield all the best next weekend.