Needing to beat hosts and Italian champions Bolzano Foxes, head coach Dave Matsos's side were able to put their Elite League troubles firmly behind them by producing the goods when it really mattered, having seen off Dutch champions The Hague 4-3 on Friday and defeated Slovenia's Maribor 5-4 on Saturday to set-up last night's showdown.

The night started in perfect fashion for the UK's league and play-off champions, when Robert Dowd opened the scoring on the powerplay at 7.03 following good work by Randy Dagenais and Matt Hubbauer.

It got even better for the visitors when Joe Talbot – who emerged a hero against Maribor after leaving his hospital bed to help set up the game-winning goal – pounced to make it 2-0 at 17.32.

Bolzano were back on level terms within a minute through Fraser Clair, who then drew his side level at 24.30.

Kenny Corupe then put the Italians ahead at 31.49 but Talbot – clearly feeling few effects of the virus which had struck him down 24 hours earlier – popped up to level for Steelers at 33.47.

A third period and overtime failed to separate the two sides leaving Jeff Legue and Matt Hubbauer to fire in the crucial goals in the shootout, much to the delight of the small pocket of travelling fans.

Steelers will now head to Grenoble, France, on January 15-17 where they will face hosts Grenoble Brûleurs de Loups, Yunost Minsk of Belarus and Austria's Red Bull Salzburg.

Afterwards, Matsos - whose side have struggled on the domestic scene this season, currently lying second-from-bottom of the Elite League table - praised his players for an outstanding three days effort, coming away with a triumph few had expected them to achieve before they headed out to Italy on Thursday afternoon.

"This is an incredible night for the club," said Matsos.

"We played tonight (against Bolzano) like I have always known we can play - this weekend we have played to our potential.

"The guys could hardly skate come over time, they had given everything in all three games, they had nothing left, all 14 of them, going up against a great squad of talent that Bolzano had.

"Let's hope this will now be the start of better times back home for us."

Elite League results, Sunday: Coventry Blaze 6 Newcastle Vipers 3, Hull Stingrays 3 Belfast Giants 2 (SO), Nottingham Panthers 2 Cardiff Devils 1.
Saturday: Newcastle Vipers 2 Coventry Blaze 5, Edinburgh Capitals 2 Cardiff Devils 1, Belfast Giants 5 Hull Stingrays 2.