The Belfast Giants held their nerve on a weekend of high drama to claim their fourth Elite League title in five seasons, securing back-to-back overtime wins versus the Nottingham Panthers to keep their treble pursuit in full tilt.
Elsewhere, the Sheffield Steelers fell at the final hurdle – they lost 4-3 to the Coventry Blaze on the final day of the season, with Matthew Greenfield left motionless as Nick Seitz arced the puck over his glove from above the face-off circle.
At the foot of the table, the Dundee Stars held off the Manchester Storm in the battle for the final playoff place, with the Fife Flyers winning in overtime against Manchester on Saturday [5 April].
With that in mind, let’s dive into our Elite League Team of the Week.
Elite League Team of the Week – Sunday, 6 April
Goaltender – Mat Robson, Coventry Blaze
Mat Robson closed out a season of peaks and troughs with back-to-back wins versus top three opposition.
The Canadian was the difference-maker as Coventry beat the Cardiff Devils on Friday [4 April], producing a 38-save performance to backstop the Blaze to a 2-1 victory over the team they’ll face in the playoff quarter-finals.
Mat Robson, Coventry Blaze (Image: Scott Wiggins)
Robson made several key interventions at the Vindico Arena, denying four (out of five) high-danger scoring chances to frustrate Kohen Olishchefski and Brett Perlini, who were held off the scoresheet despite combining for 0.89 xG.
While Robson’s numbers versus the Steelers are less sparkly (the 29-year-old allowed three goals on 31 shots), he comfortable outduelled Matthew Greenfield and made the saves his team needed to seize the win and help send the title to Belfast.
Robson ends the season with a .911 save percentage, which leaves him in similar territory to Jarrett Fiske (.912), Eamon McAdam (.911), and Tom McCollum (.911) in the middle of the pack. The Blaze would be well-minded to extend the Mississauga-born netminder.
Defenceman – Mike Lee, Belfast Giants
If the Steelers had held firm for three more minutes, taken the Blaze to overtime, and won at the Skydome Arena, the Giants would have had zero margin for error.
Sheffield trailed Belfast by one point and had the upper hand in the first tie-breaker – regulation wins – ahead of the final slate of fixtures, meaning every point mattered for Adam Keefe’s side right until the final buzzer sounded.
In a situation when clutch-ness meant everything, Mike Lee underscored his reputation as a player who delivers when the stakes are high and the pressure is on.
The American found twine three times – the overtime winner on Saturday [5 April], a go-ahead powerplay goal at 33:27 on Sunday, and the overtime winner a little under half-an-hour later.
Lee led the Giants in ice time (27:01) and blocks (four) on night-one, contributing in all situations as Belfast held their nerve to claim a double-winning season. And they could yet make it a treble.
Defenceman – Chris McKay, Glasgow Clan
Chris McKay notched three primary assists as the Glasgow Clan soared to late-season wins over the Guildford Flames (3-4) and Dundee Stars (3-2).
The Canadian topped the ice time charts on Sunday, playing a touch over 24 minutes, and looked comfortable in all situations.
Forward – Nick Seitz, Coventry Blaze
Nick Seitz placed the Blaze on his back and pulled them to victory with his goal-scoring touch versus Sheffield and Cardiff.
The 25-year-old posted three points (one goal, two assists) to spoil Sheffield’s party, having already scored the overtime winner against Cardiff two days earlier.
Nick Seitz, Coventry Blaze (Image: Scott Wiggins)
The Blaze will do well to hold on to Seitz, who closes the regular-season with 59 points (30 goals, 29 assists) in 54 appearances – an absolute steal by rookie head coach Kevin Moore.
Forward – Cade Neilson, Glasgow Clan
Cade Neilson is in World Championship-mode.
The Team Great Britain forward has five points (two goals, three assists) in his last five games, a run that includes strikes in one-goal wins over Guildford and Dundee on the final weekend of the season.
Forward – Massimo Carozza, Fife Flyers
In a bleak season for the Fife Flyers, Massimo Carozza was a rare bright spot.
The Canadian closed out with a respectable 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) in 43 appearances – and left some of his best work until last, with three primary assists in a 5-4 win against the Manchester Storm and a goal in a 6-1 loss to Dundee.
Whatever the future holds for Fife (who announced, or at least teased, an imminent change of ownership), keeping Carozza would be a wise move.
Friday, 4 April
Cardiff Devils 1-2 Coventry Blaze (OT)
Manchester Storm 3-1 Guildford Flames
Glasgow Clan 3-2 Dundee Stars (OT)
Saturday, 5 April
Guildford Flames 2-4 Glasgow Clan
Sheffield Steelers 3-2 Cardiff Devils (SO)
Belfast Giants 2-1 Nottingham Panthers (OT)
Fife Flyers 5-4 Manchester Storm (OT)
Sunday, 6 April
Dundee Stars 6-1 Fife Flyers
Coventry Blaze 4-3 Sheffield Steelers
Nottingham Panthers 3-4 Belfast Giants (OT)
READ MORE:
- Belfast Giants win Elite League title on dramatic final day
- Team GB name 2025 IIHF Division 1A World Championship roster
- Evan Mosey & David Phillips announce international retirements
- Jason Grande — ‘Joining the Nottingham Panthers was a no-brainer’
Does Mat Robson make your Team of the Week? Join the discussion in the comments.
