Daniel Ciampini and Mikko Juusolo scored with 90 seconds of each other in the first period and despite Belfast pulling a goal back, Aaron Fox’s Steelers completed the win and a memorable season with an empty netter with 63 seconds remaining.

The treble-chasers booked their spot in the showpiece final with a 6-3 win over Guildford Flames – the same opponents they defeated in the Challenge Cup final and to clinch the Elite League regular-season title – in Saturday’s semi-final.

The 6-3 scoreline looks comprehensive but it was far from it for the Steelers.

They led by only a single goal at the first intermission and had been pegged back to 1-1 by the second.

The Flames then took a 2-1 lead at the start of the third before Brien Diffley levelled on the rebound.

Then at 49:37 Steelers took a lead through Mitchell Balmass only for Guildford to hit straight back.

Eventually, Brandon Whistle gave Sheffield a lead they would never relinquish with a little under five minutes remaining, a goal followed a minute later by a strike from Daniel Ciampini.

Aaron Fox has steered his Sheffield Steelers team to within one win of the Elite League treble (Picture: Dean Woolley)

Scott Allen scored into the empty net to seal a place in Sunday’s final.

Belfast booked their place in the final by beating Cardiff Devils 2-1 in overtime.

In the NIHL National, Hull Seahawks’ season ended a game early as they lost their play-off group match-up 6-5 to Peterborough Phantoms in overtime. The two meet again on Sunday night.

Leeds Knights beat the Bees 7-3 on Saturday to book their place at finals weekend in Coventry.

Sheffield Steelers joy as they complete Elite League treble with win over Belfast Giants, Leeds Knights march on but Hull Seahawks are eliminated