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NHLGamers, With the ECL 11 Elite Finals being just around the corner, we thought who better to contact for some insight than ECL 11 cover gamer and HAVU Gaming captain Tuukka @FlyerKungen Kuha - he knows both FILADELPHIA and hREDS almost as well as his own team. Usually the man can be seen on the ice in the finals, but due to a stinging loss against hREDS in the finals, it is not the year for HAVU Gaming this time. Despite the disappointment, FlyerKungen is in great spirits and expects a lot from the upcoming weekend: What do you think the situation is like for these teams heading into the finals? "FILADELPHIA will be eager to get back what's theirs after the letdown and coming just short of a reverse sweep against us back in ECL 10. On the other hand, I feel like hREDS can enter the finals with a lot less pressure. In my opinion FILADELPHIA is the favorite and definitely has a lot more to lose but ultimately none of that matters out on the ice, both teams will do everything in their power to win and neither one wants to be the one left in second place." What kind of hockey are you expecting to see out of the two? "I'm sure we'll be seeing fast, entertaining skill hockey, just as in the previous ECL Elite Finals, so you won't want to miss out! It's definitely refreshing to have some new blood in the finals for once. FILADELPHIA will be leaning on their experience and strategies that have worked for them in the past - the centerman and defenders have a big role and the team knows how to utilize every player on the ice with the chemistry that they've built. I'm sure they'll be minimizing risk and stay in possession which might lead to frustration on the hREDS side. I think FILADELPHIA also utilizes their defensemen on the blueline in a better way, which has proven to be crucial in long playoff series before if they can play true to their level and avoid mistakes as best they can. " How about hREDS, do you think they'll be able to challenge? "hREDS is a team that relies way more on being able to beat the opponent with pure skill. They're easily the most individually skilled team in the league, but their style of play is widely known and not the most versatile. Then again, if they stick to their guns and are able to perform even against the best, they've always got the chance to win. I personally hope that the semifinal victory against us will propel hREDS with great momentum to be able to challenge a team as strong as FILADELPHIA. These are the moments you really cherish as a player and with that I wish good luck to both teams - we're hoping for a long, tightly contested series!"

NHLGamers, After yet another intense stretch of ECL Elite level virtual hockey, we've arrived at the end station. With only one series and a maximum of seven games left in the season, it's only right to take a closer look at how these teams have managed to pave their way into the finals. At the start of the season, we ranked hREDS as our prediction to win it all, whereas FILADELPHIA were found at the #2 spot in our season preview. It was of course highly expected to see a rematch of FILADELPHIA vs HAVU in yet another final series, but it is a welcome breath of fresh air that hREDS and their tremendous success this season brings to the table. The two finalists have both made the long trek to this point of the season, but their journeys have been oh so different. The ECL 11 Elite finals will be played on Friday, 12th of February starting 20:00 CET and on Saturday, 13th of February starting 20:00 CET. The stream will be going live at www.twitch.tv/NHLGamer. (1) FILADELPHIA vs hREDS (3) TOP SCORER (Playoffs) Erik @Eki Tammenpää (9 GP, 8+10=18) vs Joakim @Joukki Nyholm (10 GP, 11+8=19) GOALTENDER (Playoffs) Casper @ICappeI Lundgren (9 GP, 80.3 SV%, 1.44 GAA, 2 SO) vs Mika @FinKonna Paasikontu (10 GP, 85.71 SV%, 1.3 GAA, 4 SO) From the get-go, there was not a doubt in the world that FILADELPHIA wouldn't have what it takes to make another finals appearance and despite having their only few hiccups to start the season, the juggernauts went on to break several records that are set to stand the test of time in the ECL as we know it. We know that FILADELPHIA is an extraordinary team not simply due to their skill in every aspect of the game, but due to their tight knit group and the experience they have built as a team - a factor that can give them the edge in any given series. When facing such a team, it's not only about stopping their top scorer, who happens to be @Eki at the moment, but making it tough for FILA entails completely eliminating your own mistakes and shutting them down as a unit, which is a feat no team has consistently succeeded in this season. Statistically their primary option on attack has been Paul @PleeMaker Arontie, but we know that despite being the most probable shooter, the left winger will also dish the puck given the opportunity proven by his league leading assist total (12) in the playoffs. With hREDS, we get to an interesting story. The team is rather fresh despite consisting of players that have been at the top for quite some time already and this season was supposed to be their true claim to fame at the Elite level - as it has been. Alike FILADELPHIA, these guys also set records this season, as former forward turned defenseman Tuukka @Tuukka.R Röpelinen scored a total of 16 goals from his RD spot. Then if we're talking about stellar goaltending on FILADELPHIA's side, we can definitely say the same about @FinKonna, who's really came into his own having taken advantage of seeing time as the bona fide starter for the first time since ECL 4 with Limitless. In this hREDS segment we'll also have to talk about @Joukki, who has the hot stick right now as he leads the league in playoff scoring (19 points) and finished a total of nine goals in the seven game series against HAVU Gaming in the semifinals. With that, the hREDS left winger is looking unstoppable at the moment. Interesting points to follow: The goalie battle: both @ICappeI and @FinKonna have been red hot, and what makes it even more interesting is the fact that both of these guys have represented the opposing team in the past, Cappe playing for hREDS back in IS Cup 4 (then Delusion), whereas Konna represented FILADELPHIA for a longer period of time, until Cappe took his place after IS Cup 4 that is. Redemption time? It's widely rumored that @Joukki would be leaving hREDS to end the season and what a parting gift it would be to bring home a championship. Seems like the team is in good spirits and Joukki is motivated to make a statement for any future club aspiring to pick him up. Throughout history, these teams have been quite evenly matched, although FILADELPHIA has taken an advantage as of late. In the total of 13 bouts between these teams, hREDS are at five victories, whereas FILADELPHIA has amassed eight, out of which two have came in overtime. The defensive ability of Joonas @Patzlaf Paatiala is something else. The FILADELPHIA center currently leads the playoffs in takeaways at an average of 4.33 takeaways per game. Paired with his great faceoff efficiency, this makes for a centerman that can secure puck possession for his team. Prediction: hREDS were one of the two teams that managed to win against FILADELPHIA in the regular season. Granted, a lot of time has passed since but nevertheless it will give the challengers that bit of added confidence knowing that they have been able to overcome FILA in the past. I'm seeing hREDS as the hotter team right now especially coming off their somewhat surprising win against HAVU, and carrying that momentum they will surely be able to snatch a few wins in the finals too. However, FILA is on a completely different level as a team and if they can perform according to their high standards, they will hoist the cup. The series will end at 6 games, FILADELPHIA securing their 3rd ECL Elite title with a 4-2 series win. For a short look at how both teams have progressed to the finals, we can take a look at the playoff tree below. It's evident that as the number one seed, FILADELPHIA has had slightly more favorable matchups, whereas hREDS have had to battle a bit more. Then again, at this stage of the season no matchup is easy even if a skilled team might make it look that way. We hope you are as excited as us for the weekend! We'll see you in the chat and as always, may the best team win!

NHLGamers, Those who wait for something good never wait too long, and such is the case with the ECL 11 Neo finals that will be played in their entirety tonight. The two teams that have grinded their way through the ruthless ECL Neo season are Pinaattikone (6) out of group 2 and Goosebumps (10) out of group 3. Both have had a tremendous, long season that will come to an end tonight in either joy or sadness as the entire best of five series goes down starting at 20:00 CET. Tune in to the stream over at www.twitch.tv/ziiroust! Here are your ECL 11 Neo finalists: (6) Pinaattikone vs Goosebumps (10) PLAYER TO WATCH @hapsukka (18 GP, 23+31=54) vs @JOONAJOHIS(16 GP, 21+24=45) GOALTENDER @Odexm (18 GP, 79.89 SV%, 2.11 GAA, 0 SO) vs @Kimalahti (18 GP, 78.28 SV%, 2.67 GAA, 1 SO)

NHLGamers, After a sensational victory in the finals we witnessed captain @Nieppii lifting the cup over his shoulders as Enigma were crowned as the champions of ECL 11 Pro. Enigma was down in the series 2-1 after gameday one but the team showed real character on Wednesday in gameday two and completed the comeback with a 3-4 series win. The trophy will now join Enigma’s players in the sauna where the team can also leave last season’s disappointments behind and start the preparations for the next season in ECL Elite. Enigma's road to the championship: Group stage: 20-9-1 Round 1: Company of Geeks 4-0 Quarterfinals: Vaxjo Lakers 4-1 Semifinals: Tunnel Vision 4-2 Finals: GOONS 4-3 The winning roster: GOALTENDERS #32 @Jaakkomusta #89 @Pirtsa89 DEFENSEMEN #4 @Makeaxl #24 @Tappu A #85 @zNico FORWARDS #38 @Nieppii C #64 @laitineen64 #97 @sannteri A Playoff MVP: #97 @sannteri - Enigma (22 GP, 22+14=36) Congratulations to the champions on behalf of the entire community, and a warm thank you to all participants! If you missed the broadcast, you can rewatch it here: