MARK HURTUBISE clinched top spot in the Elite League points charts as in-form Edinburgh Capitals surged into the play-offs for the second year running with an 8-5 win over nearest rivals Hull.
Now, newly-crowned champions Sheffield Steelers await the Murrayfield men in the post-season play-offs with the first-leg in Yorkshire this Friday and the return in the Capital on Sunday.
Doug Christiansen, the club's director of hockey, fancies h
is chances despite Steelers being the runaway winners of the title by 11 points and the most consistent team of the season, winning 41 of their 54 games.
Brad Bonello, however, should be back in time after jetting home to North America to attend the funeral of his grandmother.
No.1 netminder Pasi Raitanen sat out last night's clash as he was in pain so he was rested as a precaution.
But Capitals go into the two-game mini-series on a roll, having lost only two of their last seven games – their best spell of the season so far.
On Saturday, Christiansen's side raced to a 6-3 win over Tony Hand's Manchester Phoenix.
Last night, they came from 1-0 down to beat Hull 8-5 with rising stars Jordan Steel, Mark Paterson and Sean Donaldson all netting.
Edinburgh now have 44 points and have established a seven-point margin over Hull, who also lost 5-2 at home to Cardiff Devils on Saturday night.
Christiansen said: "It was never going to be easy if we drew Sheffield, Coventry or Nottingham in the play-offs.
"Those three are very good teams and Sheffield are the league champions. However, there is no pressure on us because we're in with one of the favourites and we like our chances."
He added: "We've a 7-2 recent record and that's a phenomenal end to the season. We have guys in the dressing-room who are playing for one another and they are really enjoying it."
The playcaller believes the inclusion of Jason Cassells and Bonello have made a big difference. He added: "They are good guys and gel in the locker room and that's important.
"We have resilient players and it is a credit to them that we did not wilt – and we are getting better. That's the sign of a good team."
Capitals gained the qualification points on Saturday but they did not find it easy against Phoenix, only easing their nerves with a couple of late strikes.
Hurtubise fired Capitals into the lead in the seventh minute and just over two minutes later Cassells made it 2-0.
David-Alexandre Beauregard pulled one back on the powerplay at 11min 41sec but Capitals looked full of confidence. They added a third through defenceman Kyle Horne's sixth of the season three minutes after that.
Phoenix came back to within a goal when Beauregard's 59th broke the Elite League goalscoring record in a single season at 22min 50sec. Paterson's first of the season then made it 4-2 to the home side in the 26th minute but the visitors hit back and ended the period scoring through Lucas Burnett 12 minutes later.
Capitals held on well to their slender advantage in a third period of few quality chances. However, Hurtubise scored at 57min 42sec and Cassells added the icing on the cake with 28 seconds remaining.
Last night, James Cook put the home side ahead after nine minutes but Sean Perkins levelled unassisted in the 24th.
Skipper Martin Cingel put the visitors ahead two minutes later and Hurtubise was on hand to net in the 29th.
Adam Stefishen made it 4-1 in the dying seconds of the middle session before Troy Neumeier, making his last appearance having announced his retirement, with 29 seconds left.
Lee Esders made it 4-3 three minutes into the final session but Donaldson popped in Capitals' fifth four minutes into the third.
Hull hit back through Slava Kulikov three minutes later. The 5-4 scoreline became 6-4 thanks to Christiansen on the power play after 51 minutes but Steve Slonina at 56min 45sec found the net to keep things tight. Steel unassisted for Capitals in the 59th was followed by Paterson on an empty net with 41 seconds left on the clock.
