Sheffield, last season's regular-season champions and runners-up behind Belfast Giants in this campaign, had looked in good shape after earning a 2-2 draw from the away leg but they were sent crashing at home after losing 5-2 tonight for a 7-4 aggregate defeat.

There were no such problems for Belfast as they completed a 14-0 aggregate hammering of Dundee Stars with a 9-0 second leg win in Scotland.

In next weekend's semi-finals Belfast will face Cardiff Devils, who beat Coventry Blaze 4-1 in their second leg today having drawn the first leg 3-3.

Hull's reward for knocking out Sheffield is a last-four meeting with Nottingham, who claimed an impressive comeback win over Braehead Clan last night.