But the dimension that needs measuring more urgently is the difference between Steelers and Coventry Blaze.

Blaze retained their championship this weekend with wins over Manchester Phoenix and Belfast Giants.

It was their third league title in four years.

Steelers' coach Dave Matsos now has the summer to refine his squad to be in a position where next year's team can mount a stronger challenge to Paul Thompson's stranglehold of the main honour.

Last night, though, red-hot Dan Tessier fired Steelers' winning goal with 21 seconds left at Cardiff Devils.

Tessier scored a powerplay winner - and left Devils' players and fans furious.

Cardiff had fought back from 2-0 and 3-1 down to level the scores at 3-3, but then, in the final minute, Welsh defenceman Jason Stone landed a two-minute penalty for delay of game.

When Stone fired the puck out of Devils' defensive zone it struck Sheffield's Ryan Finnerty before flyingover the Plexiglass.

Referee Matt Thompson did not call a delay of game penalty until a linesman spoke to him - and then Cardiff captain Brad Voth landed a 10-minute misconduct penalty when he let fly at the referee.

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"The puck hit Finnerty's skate and could not have been a penalty," said an angry Voth.

These two teams could yet meet in the last eight of the play-offs, but it's looking more and more as though Steelers will face Manchester, while Cardiff could tackle Belfast.

Manchester Phoenix could yet change that by overtaking Devils - thee teams have yet to meet at the Cardiff Bay rink.

Captain Jonathan Phillips was named man of the match at the Cardiff Bay rink last night, while Tyson Teplitsky earned the Devils' award. Former Sheffield Scimitars player Matt Towe was also outstanding for Cardiff.

At Sheffield Arena on Saturday, there was a sense of after-the-Lord-Mayor's-show, with Steelers rink announcer Dave Simms referring to Coventry's winning scoreline over Manchester with the words "as if we care any more."

While Sheffield's margin of victory over Vipers and Tessier's hat-trick were admirable enough, there were some concerns over Jody Lehman's confidence.

He has been a rock for much of the season but has conceded some soft goals - by his standards - in the last couple of games.

Vipers' marksman opened the scoring Colin Shields at 4.40. Tessier equalised six minutes later.

The match was won in a minute - Jonathan Phillips (20th) and Joey Talbot doing the damage.

While Jeff Hutchins fired through Lehman's pads, Tessier put Steelers back in the driving seat with two more, the last one an empty netter.

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