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NHLGamers, You've worked hard and come all this way. Now it's only time to work harder. "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs.. Then you'll be a man, my son.". The iconic poem If by Rudyard Kipling addresses the reader in an attempt to build faith. If you believe, then you will also more likely succeed - all four remaining teams will want the trophy in a few weeks time. In the upcoming semifinals, we'll be in for some interesting battles and some exciting storylines, as both Swedish and Finnish esports fans will have something to cheer for as one matchup showcases SHL teams Linköping HC and Färjestad BK, whereas the other one is a clash between finish esports organisations HAVU Gaming and hREDS. Here are the matchups for the ECL 10 Elite semifinals: (2) Linkoping HC vs Farjestad BK (8) PLAYOFF RECORD 4-0 (Roots) vs 4-1 (JYP Jyvaskyla) TOP SCORER Erik @Eki Tammenpää (3+7=10) vs Andreas @affelj96 Ljungberg (6+2=8) GOALTENDER Casper @ICappeI Lundgren (4 W, 87,88 SV%, 1 GAA, 1 SO) vs Johan @Rundqviiist Rundqvist (4 W, 86,44 SV%, 1,6 GAA, 0 SO) Let's start off by acknowledging the incredible feat of upsetting the number 1 seed that Farjestad BK pulled off to start the playoffs. It's something out of the ordinary and has last happened back in ECL 4 in a matchup between #1 seed MUKIMIEHET and #8 seed Limitless, a series in which now dear teammates in Linköping, Erik @Eki Tammenpää (MUKIMIEHET) & Paul @PleeMaker Arontie (Limitless) took part on opposing sides of the ice. Having such an upset occur at an early stage can throw off the playoff picture a bit, which it has in this case too. Linkoping is a tremendously consistent team, which is easily proven by the fact that they've been either title holders or contenders ever since surfacing at the Elite level in ECL 7. This season, the team has been on a record-setting streak with both a forward (Plee) and a defenseman (Aleksi @loimmu Loimuvirta) setting all-time scoring records. In the quarters, the white lions laid a beating on Roots by sweeping the 7th seed in convincing manner. Now, in comparison Roots and FBK are two very different opponents. Actually FBK entertains a playing style unlike any other at this level. The team has been looking for stretch passes up the boards and the coined "Pelimies"-play up the middle all season long, and have seemingly found space to create other plays due to the constant threat of a stretch pass. That combined with a solid defense and goaltender Johan @Rundqviiist Rundqvist making a solid case for being among the top goaltenders in the world is what led to the team overcoming heavy favorite JYP and now being a solid contender. (3) HAVU Gaming vs hREDS (4) PLAYOFF RECORD 4-0 (BRAYCE Phantoms) vs 4-3 (Unlucky Boys HC) TOP SCORER Tuukka @FlyerKungen Kuha (4+8=12) vs Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen (5+11=16) GOALTENDER Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen (4 W, 90 SV%, 1 GAA, 2 SO) vs Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen (4 W, 83,91 SV%, 2 GAA, 1 SO) HAVU Gaming and hREDS are a somewhat expected pairing at this point of the season, as both of these powerhouses were predicted to finish among the top teams in the standings. HAVU is the more established team and obviously some heavy expectations rest on those shoulders - nothing the guys aren't used to. On the other side, hREDS is the home to some of the most exciting talent in the game right now, but the team being more of a combination of talent from various sources isn't as coherent of a unit - at least yet. We've seen a number of surprises in the playoffs over the years and this season has been no exception to that, so maybe hREDS can overcome the odds? With certainty we can say that this battle will determine who is the greatest gaming org in the ECL at the moment, and a victory will surely provide the prevailing side with some social media ammo for the foreseeable future. For HAVU, the team has been led from the back by Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen, who as usual has been a beast in net and will continue to pain the forwards facing him. The REDS have the offensive tools to match HAVU with Niklas @NikkeDangles Tukiainen leading the way over the course of the season, but they need to focus on staying out of the box, 5 on 5 hockey is what they need as much as possible of if they want to walk away as winners. How to watch? The games will be broadcasted at NHLGamer's Twitch-channel according to the schedule below: Monday, May 25th 20:00 CEST Series 1: Games 1-2 (puck drop around 20:20) Farjestad BK vs Linkoping HC 21:30 CEST Series 2: Games 1-2 (puck drop around 21:30-22:00 - but only after the above games are finished) hREDS vs HAVU Gaming Wednesday, May 27th 20:00 CEST Series 3: Games 3-4 (puck drop around 20:20) Farjestad BK vs Linkoping HC 21:30 CEST Series 4: Games 3-4 (puck drop around 21:30-22:00 - but only after the above games are finished) hREDS vs HAVU Gaming Thursday, May 28th 20:00 CEST Series x: Games 5-7 (puck drop around 20:20) AFTER THAT Series y: Games 5-7 (only after the above games are finished)

NHLGamers, Tonight is the night of the RCL 6 finals! On Sunday, the big online finals of NOVA vs Blackdawgs and the Russia's first full broadcast in EASHL will take a place. As the 6th iteration of the country's virtual hockey league is coming to a conclusion, it can be stated that the league is well established and has a place in the hearts of Russian gamers. The finalists of RCL 6 prepare for the games, and the organizers frantically adjust the latest settings before the broadcast. Today we will see the whole series live commentated by the golden voice of Ufa (Hc Salavat Ulaev) - Azamat Muratov. Update: Unfortunately Mr Muratov had to cancel last minute due to personal reasons. Path to the Finals Of the 12 teams in division 1, only two remains. The teams have passed a long road full of difficulties on their way to the finals, but they look like the very armored train that blows away everything in it's path. Both had an uneven regular season and who would have thought that the fifth seed team would reach the final and on top of that go into the finals as a favorite. NOVA NOVA slightly stalled at the beginning of the season, but the guys quickly got a taste of victory and have strung together 17 wins in a row now. They played their series with Virtuoso ending in a score of 4: 0, we'd love to tell you how they disassembled the Rusty Bulls, but rather we show. To your attention the highlights of the NOVA vs Rusty Bulls series: In every single match, NOVA was faster than their rivals, their ideas on attack looked fresher than that of the Bulls and the defensive game was more reliable, which led to this result. Blackdawgs The very lazy regular season threw Blackdawgs in fifth place to end the regular season, but in the playoffs this team is hard to recognize, the defending champions have won every match and done it in beautiful fashion. Here are the highlights from their semifinal matchups against Exen esports: Even the most daring predictions couldn't have expected a victory for the Blackdawgs in the semi's, but it was they who caused Exen's first defeats in RCL playoff history. BD demonstrate incredible understanding on attack and draw their combinations to the joy not only of themselves, but also of the audience. The sum of all these combinations and numbers gives us the most attacking and unpredictable finishing in history. It might sound corny, but the one who scores more goals will win, because the shootout will be serious - it's going to be one exciting series. Key players: In all statistical aspects, NOVA looks a little better, but this is an echo of the fact that BD opponents were stronger in general. Captains: @xMotzz vs SPB_AlexZver_22 Both left defenders are captains of their teams, in the semifinals it was their goals and their salvation in difficult moments of the match that decided the fate of the series. This is a matchup between the best defenders of the league. Attackers: @lapa98 vs @Virusactive @lapa98 has consistently been one of the best in the league for several seasons in a row and this is no exception, and @Virusactive is the leader of the attack in these playoffs. Goalies: @sumskoy26 vs Alex_rus17 Almost all skaters in the league dislike these guys, but is there a better compliment for a goalkeeper? When you put all your strength into your attack, beat a few people and now go out 1v1 with the goalkeeper, then know that if these guys are in front of you, you are going to have a tough time. Clutchers: @Ollizhki vs @Valluxet In the playoffs, every player brings their maximum effort to the table, and at those moments beating several opponents with individual skill is considered a luxury. Here are the players who are able to decide the fate of matches alone. Where to watch? The complete finals will be streamed on Twitch, the games will start at 19:30 CEST (20:30 EEST) Twitch: www.twitch.tv/nhlgamerrus