Cardiff Devils are guaranteed at least an elimination game for the Challenge Cup semi-finals, after a hard-earned win at Nottingham Panthers.

The Welsh club top the standings after a 4-2 victory in their penultimate game of an incredibly tight Group A - with five teams still hoping to progress.

Nick Welsh put the visitors in front in the opening period with Evan Mosey doubling their advantage in the second, before two goals in a minute from Panthers Aiden Hansen-Bukata and Spencer Naas tied the game.

Nolan Yaremko quickly restored Cardiff's lead, and in a tense third period Ryan Barrow sealed victory with an empty-net goal seven seconds from the end.

"It was a must-win game for us tonight, we didn't want to leave it to chance with that last game and others playing before us," said Mosey, who was icing for the first time since injuring a knee in September's home tie against Panthers.

"We had a job to do. The boys played unbelievably," added the 37-year-old.

Sunday's results left four sides - Cardiff, Sheffield Steelers, Panthers and Guildford Flames - all on 12 points.

Manchester Storm in fifth, with seven points, could also make the knockout stages having three games still to play.

Guildford in third place and Nottingham in fourth have both completed their 10-game programme, while Steelers - beaten 1-0 in Cardiff on Saturday - and the Devils both have one match to play.

Sheffield host Storm on Wednesday, 28 October, before the Manchester side welcome bottom club Coventry Blaze on Friday, 30 October and Cardiff on Sunday, 1 November.

The top two sides in Group A automatically qualify for the semi-final, with the third-placed team facing an elimination tie against the runners-up in the smaller group B.

Belfast Giants have already secured their place in the last four as winners of that group, while with three games each to play, Fife Flyers are second three points clear of Glasgow Clan and four ahead of Dundee Stars.