Coventry Blaze coach Chuck Weber has said his side should have taken the game into over-time as they conceded a late goal to lose 2-1 at home to Belfast Giants on Saturday night.
Weber told the Blaze website: "I thought we deserved to at least get to overtime. We didn't capitalise on our opportunities.
"We have 10 games left. We have to assume Manchester are going to win out and we need to make sure we find ways to get points. This one hurts tonight. It was two 4-on-4 goals that cost us."