Coventry Blaze 5-3 Sheffield Steelers
Brett Robinson, who signed a new deal this week, Cale Tanaka, Chris Bruton, Carl Lauzon and Kevin Noble put Blaze firmly in control - they were 5-0 up at 29:34.
But Steelers produced a comeback through Fredrik Vestberg, Robert Dowd and Guillaume Desbiens to keep the tie alive.
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Hide AdA two-goal deficit seems a big hill to climb - but one that the Elite League champions are capable of on their own ice.
Their third goal at the Skydome, on the Power Play at 58:29, certainly puts them in with a shot.
The tie will be decided at Sheffield Arena on Sunday night.
Sheffield are without injured Zack Fitzgerald, but have Colton Fretter back in the line up.
Dundee Stars produced a fantastic performance on the road to win 4-2 at Cardiff Devils.
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Hide AdFife Flyers produced a dramatic late comeback in the final 90 seconds to beat Braehead Clan 2-1, with Kyle Haines hitting the winning goal.
Nottingham Panthers led 2-0 and then found themselves 3-2 down before roaring back to win a topsy-turvy clash with Belfast Giants 4-3 courtesy of Stephen Schultz's goal.
RESULTS
Saturday 26th March
Elite League Play-Offs Quarter Finals 1st Leg
Cardiff Devils 2 Dundee Stars 4
Coventry Blaze 5 Sheffield Steelers 3
Fife Flyers 2 Braehead Clan 1
Nottingham Panthers 4 Belfast Giants 3
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FIXTURES
Sunday 27th March
Play-Offs Quarter Finals 2nd Leg
Braehead Clan (1) v Fife Flyers (2) – 6.00pm
Dundee Stars (4) v Cardiff Devils (2) – 6.30pm
Sheffield Steelers (3) v Coventry Blaze (5) – 5.00pm
Monday 28th March
Play-Offs Quarter Finals 2nd Leg
Belfast Giants (3) v Nottingham Panthers (4)