Elite League play-offs: Cardiff Devils set up semi-final against Sheffield Steelers

Cardiff Devils have reached the Elite League play-off semi-finals despite a 2-1 second-leg defeat to Coventry Blaze.

Saturday's 5-1 win in Coventry proved too big a lead to overturn for Blaze.

Kim Tallberg scored in the first period to reduce Devils' lead to three before Tyler Kirkup made it 5-3 on aggregate.

But as Coventry went in search of late goals Jake Coughler scored into an empty net to seal Devils' place in Nottingham for play-off finals weekend.

Cardiff were in control of the tie going into Sunday's second leg after a commanding win in Coventry on Saturday.

Blaze had taken the lead through Johnny Curran but Brodie Reid levelled things up before the end of the first period.

Second period goals from Joey Martin, Josh Brittain and Josh Waller gave put the Devils 4-1 up in Coventry.

Trevor Cox's third period goal gave Coventry a mountain to climb on Sunday, which they could not manage despite a spirited fightback.

Devils will face Sheffield Steelers in the semi-final at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Great Britain have selected six Devils players in an initial 32-strong squad for a training camp ahead of this year's World Championship, with Ben Bowns, Josh Batch, Mark Richardson, Ben Davies, Sam Duggan and Josh Waller called up.

The squad will be cut to 22, plus an emergency netminder, ahead of the Championship which begins on Saturday, 29 April.