Nottingham Panthers fell just short but put in a battling performance in a 2-1 defeat by Belfast Giants after overtime at the SSE Arena.
Although the league title bid fell just short, every player gave it their all right to the end, and Panthers will finish the season in third place.
It means Panthers will face Guildford Flames in a two-legged quarter-final next weekend.
Panthers were without forward Otto Nieminen (lower body injury). Jason Grande started between the pipes with Luca Sheldon as back-up.
Giants lead after first period
Grande made a good early save to deny Bobo Carpenter and also turned away efforts from JJ Piccinich and David Goodwin.
At the other end, Cooper Zech had two chances in quick succession and Sam Herr was denied by the pad of Jackson Whistle.
Scott Conway put the hosts ahead with a bullet of a one-timer from Scott Conway that flew past Grande from right-point (13:20).
No goals in tense second period
Matt Alfaro and Tim Doherty had chances for the Panthers early in the second period, while Reid Stefanson went close from the slot.
Jordan Kawaguchi hit the bar from the slot as Belfast pressured hard late in the session and Grande beat the advancing JJ Piccinich to the puck.
With five seconds remaining in the period, Whistle flung himself to make a wonder save to deny Quinn Wichers.
Doherty goal takes game to overtime
Panthers made the perfect start to the third period when Tim Doherty, who only flew into Belfast today after suffering with sickness, redirected a shot from Tim Spener (40:16).
Sam Herr, Kristoff Kontos and Hugo Roy had chances in quick succession while at the other end, Grande turned away efforts from Kawaguchi and JJ Piccinich.
Nottingham lifted Grande for the extra outskater and Herr hit the side-netting while Kontos cleared a puck off the line as Belfast had a shot on the empty net.
Giants secure extra point
Belfast had the better of overtime and created a couple of chances in the opening stages.
And the home side won it when Mike Lee converted on a breakaway (62:17) to send the home crowd wild.
Two sides meet again tomorrow (Sunday)
Panthers and Belfast meet again tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) with the face-off at the later time of 5:30pm for a Sunday.
