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Only four teams remain in the Spring edition of ECL '24 - which two will we see in the Finals? Read on to find out our predictions! SERIES 1: Falun Coal Miners (1) Mustaa Kultaa (10) In the previous round, both teams took a different road to the semifinals, Mustaa Kultaa overcoming a 3-1 series deficit versus TIKI TALK winning 3 games in a row and showing some real grit in their game. Falun on the other hand did not choke, they took a convincing lead in the series against Golden Sticks, who really fought back and won 2 games in overtime, but in game 6 Falun ran away with it and closed out the series. Falun who play a physical game, can really annoy their opponents with their style of play, with close to 300 hits in these playoffs their opponent should get some extra padding before they step on the ice for game 1 of the series. @Smayk99 taking the faceoff game seriously in these playoffs, with an impressive 56,1% faceoff percentage, @xHatsi being below the coveted 50% mark could be a dealbreaker. This team has a well-rounded roster and can fire on all cylinders if need be, and Mustaa Kultaa will be dealing with a whole different kind of team in this round. When a team has momentum in this video game, it’s a force to be reckoned with, Mustaa Kultaa winning 3 straight shows that they really want to win, they’re loaded with confidence and will surely project that into this series. @Allupekkaz taking the biggest responsibility in offense for this team with his 19 points (9+10) in these playoffs shows that his start in Goons wasn’t a mistake, but that he can lead a team far. Mustaa Kultaa have been blessed with the new signing of @LatveX, the wonder goalie who is playing in only his second ECL season and has taken it upon himself to make Elite teams wonder if his services are needed in the highest division in the future, but for now he is stealing games for Mustaa Kultaa left and right, however, their Swedish foes are a well-organized team that can make goalies wish they never turned their consoles on. We had a chance to talk with the assistant captain @Buffy for Falun coal Miners before and the assistant captain for Mustaa Kultaa, @Allupekkaz before the series - here's what they had to say: What do you know about your upcoming opponent, and who is the difference maker on their team? BuffyXll: "Obviously they have loads of talent being one of the teams who were eligble for the preseason Elite Qualification rounds. They have plenty of firepower and proved that by knocking out a team like TikiTalk. Mustaa Kultaa's playoff seed doesn't really reflect the teams higher levels of play, if they put in that sixth gear., they're hard team to stop." Allupekkaz: "Falun is an extremely dangerous team in the offensive zone, they can turn the puck quickly into offense and move the puck really well there with the help of their defenseman. Furyan is a player who can decide a series with his experience and hockey-iq." How will you prepare for the series? BuffyXll: "We've had a couple of days off coming out of a really fun playoff round vs Golden sticks. There is still some time for us to get some practice done and talk about the choices we've made in life." Allupekkaz: "We'll practice one day, and then see how the opponent plays and make necessary changes." What will it take for your team to advance to the finals? BuffyXll: "We need to play our own game and trust our process. We shall keep pushing forward no matter what the costs may be. We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in our play. We shall never surrender. " Allupekkaz: "Tight defense and smart choices in the offensive zone, we'll try to minimize our mistakes and capitalize on theirs." Predictions: @hifk_FANI: 2-4 Mustaa Kultaa @Juhaniz-: 4-3 Falun Coal Miners @jubex0r: 4-3 Falun Coal Miners @Pensasmies: 4-3 Falun Coal Miners Player to watch: @LatveX Watch the series live: twitch.tv/CoalMinersTV, twitch.tv/allupekkaz SERIES 2: (7) RYHTIC vs Almost Famous (8) Both teams took it to themselves to take down a higher-seeded opponent, RYHTIC in 6 games vs Poggers, and Almost Famous bested the German powerhouse Deadly Phantoms in 5 games. With the two teams facing off in the regular season, whereas Almost Famous drew the longer straw, taking 5 out of 6 possible points, will this turn out to be the edge they need to take their talent all the way to the Final? RYHTIC comes in after a good quarterfinal matchup, where they blew out a good Poggers team 6-1 in the deciding game of the series. Now they take on a similar opponent in Almost Famous, who can take their game to their opponent. Can the likes of @MCH_98 & @Sagee95 stop the high octane offense that is Almost Famous? In offense RYHTIC showed they’re not just one of the best defensive teams in Pro, but can take out teams with their goalscoring, @Limbe65 with 14 goals so far this postseason ranks 3rd in that category in these playoffs so far, with his impressive goal scoring touch he’ll be looking to add a lot more, with all forwards on this team playing a 200-foot game, Almost Famous might just find out that scoring is harden then it was before. When a team can play like Almost Famous can, it comes with certain expectations that results will follow, they can take on almost any team in ECL offensive wise, in 5 games against Deadly Phantoms they conceded 16 times, considering the opponent they have now, and their talents in their own zone, @grontti88 and his SV% of 74,56 needs to be better. Whilst defense wins championships, this team has the ability to score, so if the defense isn’t there, they might just out-score their opponents anyway, creative forward @ikavalko and offensive defenceman @Jalkkin- who spearhead this offense, can make any team weak in the knees. It's the classic tale of offense vs defense, which will prevail? We had a chance to talk with the RYHTIC captain @yrjoo and the Almost Famous captain @Ikavalko before the series - here's what they had to say: What do you know about your upcoming opponent, and who is the difference maker on their team? Yrjoo: "They are in great form, and played very well so far in these playoffs. They have a great player in every position, but have to pick out Rikardo, just a few seasons ago he played in Neo and now he's fighting for a spot in Pro Finals." Ikavalko: "I haven't really followed RYHTIC this season, but I'd say they have a lot of "pass-first" kind of players, so their weakness would be their lack of players to make a difference in a series, with the exception of @MCH_98, he can really make a difference with his offense, however, we'll try to make him make mistakes and when we do, the game will turn around really quickly." How will you prepare for the series? Yrjoo: "The same way as any other series." Ikavalko: No need to reinvent the wheel here, we'll do our thing and keep the flow going. Focus on our thing and only that is what got us this far." What will it take for your team to advance to the finals? Yrjoo: "If we just keep playing the way we have, we'll have a great chance to advance." Ikavalko: "Smart defense and puck control is what we're focusing on, pressing in the right areas at the right time is how we'll take this series. I think our trickery, creativity, and puck control are better than RYHTIC. They are clearly the better team on defense so we won't take that battle." Predictions: @hifk_FANI: 4-2 Almost Famous @Juhaniz-: 4-3 RYHTIC @jubex0r: 4-3 RYHTIC @Pensasmies: 4-3 RYHTIC Player to watch: @JussinSisko Watch the series live: twitch.tv/yrjoo, twitch.tv/mkine FOLLOW THE ECL PRO PLAYOFFS LIVE You can watch live coverage of the Pro Division Quarterfinals on Twitch, YouTube, and X on Tuesday, June 11th. Additionally, you can follow the teams' own coverage using the links provided above. Who do you think will win each series? Are there any key points or factors that we may have not covered? Let us know in the comments!

We're in the Quarterfinals stage in the Core division this ECL ‘24 Spring season, and we have some good matchups to walk you throguh! Disclaimer: all of the predictions were made before any games were played. Prowlers (1) vs KohKae Esports (14) We're presented with a tantalizing matchup between the top-seeded Prowlers and the 14th seed KohKae Esports. This game promises high drama and intense competition as these two teams battle for a spot in the semifinals. The Prowlers have been dominant all season, finishing first in Group 2 and continuing their strong form into the playoffs. Key players like @RHannu, who scored 43 goals and 20 assists in the regular season and added 14 goals and 9 assists in the playoffs, have been pivotal. @Kvarneen has also been instrumental with 21 goals and 34 assists in the regular season and 5 goals and 16 assists in the playoffs. The Prowlers' ability to maintain offensive pressure and defensive solidity has made them a formidable opponent. KohKae Esports, finishing fourth in Group 3, have shown remarkable resilience. @Joona41 has led their charge with 21 goals and 7 assists in the playoffs, backed by strong support from @Royalcombat96 and @TenkaRolle. Their journey has been marked by crucial victories and a gritty determination to succeed. It's important to note that Kohkae come into the Quarterfinals as one of the hottest teams in the league, as they currently ride on a 16-game win streak that dates back to May 16 (8 wins to end the regular season and two series sweeps in the playoffs). Prowlers have been the model of consistency in the Core Division this season. They have yet to lose any games in succession, with their longest losing streak this season being just 1 game (including playoffs). Offensively, the Prowlers boast a potent attack led by RHannu and Kvarneen, capable of shifting the game's momentum swiftly. KohKae relies heavily on Joona41, with support from Royalcombat96, making for an exciting offensive duel. Defensively, the Prowlers excel at intercepting plays and maintaining puck control, while KohKae’s defense, anchored by @LihaPoni90, has shown resilience under pressure. Special teams will be crucial, with the Prowlers’ effective power play and KohKae’s impressive penalty kill percentage of 88.89% in the playoffs likely to play pivotal roles. The goalie comparison in the Playoffs is an interesting one: Prowlers’ goaltender, @Tizjeflen, has been reliable throughout the season and playoffs, with a goals against average (GAA) of 2.4 and most importantly playing winning hockey. However, the save percentage of 76.92% in the playoffs could indicate some room for improvement and could be key against a KohKae's offense. Tizjeflen has definitely done their part so far but will need to elevate their game to match the performance levels seen in the regular season. On the other side of the ice KohKae's goalie, @khassu--, has been pivotal in their playoff journey, showing remarkable performance under pressure. Khassu-- has posted an impressive GAA of 1.25 and a save percentage of 87.65%. These stats highlight their ability to perform in high-stakes situations and keep the team competitive. KohKae's netminder holds the statistical edge in playoff performance, which could be a decisive factor as KohKae Esports look to upset the top-seeded Prowlers in this critical series. Predictions: @Pekedipeks: 3-4 KohKae Esports @Pensasmies 4-2 Prowlers @bMaJuH 4-2 Prowlers ChatGPT: 4-1 Prowlers Armeijan Kuri (2) vs Silver Sword Griffins (10) Interestingly enough, these two teams were both in Group 3 during the regular season, meaning that they met twice. The regular season series was split, with Armeijan Kuri winning 6-2 and Silver Sword Griffins winning 4-3 in regulation. This is the only series in the Quarterfinal where the two teams meeting have played against each other before this season. During that regular season series, Armeijan Kuri outshot SSG 43-26 and had 18:27 of time on attack compared to SSG's 9:48. In other words, they doubled SSG's offensive production, something that the Griffins will have to improve on if they want to have a chance in this series. An impact player for SSG will be @SchoolBoyz who currently ranks Top 10 in the playoffs in points with 29, as well as in goals with 16, which matches his regular-season total. For Armeijan Kuri, @MutainenMalik will be one to watch. The ECL rookie led this team in points, (54), goals (23), and assists (31) during the regular season. He also was a defensive leader for his team, leading Armeijan Kuri in interceptions (115) and hits (158). He also tied @WIRTAAZKIN47 for the team lead in takeaways with 47. This series will also feature two of the top goaltenders that the Core Division has to offer, as both @kasuri1 for Ameijan Kuri and @gacorigavecit17 for SSG finished Top 5 in the league in wins and both had an 83.33 SV% during the regular season. Predictions: @Pekedipeks: 4-1 Armeijan Kuri @Pensasmies: 4-2 Armeijan Kuri @bMaJuH: 4-1 Armeijan Kuri ChatGPT: 4-1 Armeijan Kuri Capetown Kings (3) vs Saucer Hockey(8) This will be a classic matchup between strong offense and strong defense. Capetown Kings were one of the highest-scoring teams averaging 4.15 goals for per game (3rd in Core), while Saucer Hockey averaged just 1.9 goals against per game (tied for 3rd in Core). Capetown Kings dominated Group 4, finishing with a 14-5 record in the regular season. Their potent offense scored 71 goals while allowing just 44. Special teams have been exceptional, with a power play percentage of 32.4% and a penalty kill rate of 91.3%. In the playoffs, they have maintained their form, posting an 8-5 record. Key players include @Black1Eagle1 and @sambleri, both tallying 30 points in 13 games. Beeoo87 has also been effective with 14 points in 10 games. Their ability to combine offensive depth with strong defense makes them a tough contender. This has been paired with phenomenal goaltending from @Moneygunx, who has put up an 86.03 SV% in 10 starts. He has also posted 21 shutout periods during that time. Saucer Hockey, finishing second in Group 3, had a solid 13-5 regular season. They scored 58 goals and conceded 50, with a power play efficiency of 27.5% and a penalty kill rate of 84.09%. In the playoffs, they posted an 8-4 record. Key players include @Miggohell with 21 points and @Pagemz with 17 points and 84 interceptions. @JoonaIceman has also been crucial with 12 points and 62 interceptions. Capetown Kings enter as favorites with their balanced play, but Saucer Hockey has shown they can upset higher-seeded teams. This matchup promises high-paced action and strategic battles, with both teams vying for a semifinal spot. Predictions: @Pekedipeks: 4-3 Capetown Kings @Pensasmies: 3-4 Saucer Hockey @bMaJuH: 4-2 Capetown Kings ChatGPT: 4-2 Capetown Kings (5) Darra Stars VS Wida (6) As we head into the quarterfinals of the ECL '24 Spring - Core Division, the stage is set for an electrifying showdown between the #3 seed Darra Stars and the #8 seed Wida. Both teams have battled through their groups with determination and grit, promising high drama on the virtual ice. Darra Stars, finishing second in Group 2, come into the quarterfinals as the third seed, having posted an impressive 16-2-0 regular season record. They scored an average of 4.45 goals per game while allowing only 1.9 goals per game. In the playoffs, the Stars have continued their dominant form, averaging 3.77 goals per game and conceding just 1.46 goals per game. Leading the charge is @Aika_Suklaata, with 19 goals and 18 assists in 13 playoff games. @MrRelw supports with 33 points, and @isoraitti10 has added 29 points in just 7 games. In goal, @MietuskaXIV has been stellar, with an 88.62% save percentage and a 1.46 goals-against average. Wida, finishing second in Group 4, recorded a 12-5-0 regular season, scoring an average of 3.45 goals per game and allowing 1.7 goals per game. In the playoffs, they've been impressive with an average of 3.5 goals per game, although they've allowed 2.71 goals per game. Key players for Wida include @nikitikitin, who has 14 goals and 30 assists in 14 games, and @SeoSteve, who has contributed 22 goals and 16 assists. @Hattor111 has also been a significant contributor with 5 goals and 16 assists in 9 games. In net, @Mise13 has been reliable, posting an 84.47% save percentage and a 2.27 goals-against average. Darra Stars have a potent offense and strong defense, with MietuskaXIV as a standout performer. Their special teams are exceptional, particularly their perfect playoff penalty kill. Wida, with a balanced attack led by nikitikitin and SeoSteve, also boasts strong special teams with a 90.48% penalty kill in the playoffs. Expect a thrilling and tightly contested series, with the Darra Stars likely emerging victorious in a hard-fought battle. You can look forward to a showcase of skill and intense competition as these two teams fight for a spot in the semifinals of the ECL '24 Spring - Core Division. T Predictions: @Pekedipeks: 3-4 Wida @Pensasmies: 4-1 Darra Stars @bMaJuH: 4-3 Darra Stars ChatGPT: 4-2 Darra Stars Follow the Playoff streams: Please post dates, times and links for streams in the comments of this news story and social media, to help everyone find your team streams. Social media: Twitter: When posting tweets of your lineups, matchups, recaps, clips, articles - or any other content you might want to create - please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtags when possible: @SportsGamerGG #ECL24Spring #eHockey #NHL24 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi Instagram: When posting on Instagram, please make sure to tag the following accounts and hashtags when possible: @SportsGamerGG #ECL24Spring #eHockey #NHL24 #esports #kouvolanlakritsi We wish all teams the best of luck!

(1) Nordic Stars vs Hopfensmoothie HC (24) After two very different series, these two teams now face each other which should be worth watching, with the number one seed facing a team a lot further down the pecking order. The coveted number one seed always comes with the position of being the favorite in every series, and this series is no exception. With a sweep in both rounds so far Nordic Stars are the heavy favorite to take another win and advance. With the whole team scoring a lot, it will be interesting to see if someone can keep this pace up and break a record of 95 points (49+46) set by @moilanenC in the ECL 4 - Lite playoffs. For now, the duo of @Jerax13 and @Vire30 are boasting a point-per-game of 4.75 which is on pace to be a Lite record (min 6 games played). Hopfensmoothie has another upset to make, taking down seed number 2 Oldtimers, in a well-played game 7! Now they need to continue where they left off. With some great leadership and great team defense, they can take this series further than any other team has in these playoffs. With their lineup changing, this can provide a shake-up they will need, however, their captain and backbone @Original-SnuS, has played in all of their 14 games so far. Can Hopfensmoothie continue their streak of game 7s? We caught up with the Hopfensmoothie HC captain @Original-SnuS for some comments about the series. What are your plans for the high powered offense of Nordic Stars? Original-SnuS: "We just try our best on defense. Our goalie is probably the best in the Lite. With a little playoff toughness, a lot is possible. 😄" How will the servers play a role in this series? Original-SnuS: "Unfortunately, the servers play far too big a role in this game. They will have advantages and we will have them. We are used to this, but are they?" Predictions: @hifk_FANI: Nordic Stars 4-1 @Pensasmies: Nordic Stars 4-0 @Pekedipeks: Nordic Stars 4-1 @MCH_98: Nordic Stars 4-2 Player to watch: @Katunarski (3) Zenegeim vs DEG eSports (11) A defensive team vs an offensive team. Both teams surely can provide both - on Tuesday we’ll see who takes the first games when these two teams face each other. Zenegeim plays a mean style of hockey, they punish the smallest of mistakes on defense and are really dangerous on the counter-attack. With captain @Juhaniz- not providing the offense he usually did when he played winger, this can frustrate even the best of players. @rakkauspakkaus- taking the lead on offense in these playoffs, he’ll surely want more to his name in this series. Can Zenegeim overcome the German server, and advance to the next round? In a tight series, there are always good games, and not-so-good games. In this series, the team from Düsseldorf needs to string together more of those good games to have a shot at a spot in the semifinals. They’re going to need their top point producers @daaiim0n and @xxICEFORCERxx to do more than they already have in these playoffs - take this team on their backs and carry them offensively. @Meazza1704 has been great so far, with an 86,62% save percentage. If he can keep up the good work, DEG eSports will have a great chance to go through to the next round. Predictions: @hifk_FANI: Zenegeim 4-1 @Pensasmies: Zenegeim 4-1 @Pekedipeks: Zenegeim 4-2 @MCH_98: Zenegeim 4-1 Player to watch: @Esko-etikka (4) Mights vs Modo Hockey (7) This is a series that will go down as a coin flip - both teams possess the right type of style to beat one another - but as always, only one team can win. In this series, we have the privilege to witness two teams who can hold on to the puck at the right times, and not turn over the puck in situations where it’s costly. Mights took a confident 4-1 series win in their last matchup and absolutely shut down a good offensive team in Ruuti, only conceding 6 hosld in 5 games. If their defense is able to keep up the good work, it won't be a long series. @Saloust77 16 goals in these playoffs puts him in 2nd place in the scoring category - if MoDo Hockey finds a way to keep him quiet in this series, Mights might just not make it. Taking down former Pro team Pata Hellalla in a sweep, MoDo showed everybody that this is where they belong, riding a 6 game-win streak heading into this matchup, MoDo have a good momentum that might propel them into the next round. Also, a good defensive team, MoDo kept Pata Hellalla to a mere 4 goals in 4 games. Will we see any goals in this series? @MrXbox79will surely have a say in that with his 16 points (5+11), assisting him will be @Mathiasgamer_07. Predictions: @hifk_FANI: 1-4 MoDo @Pensasmies: 4-1 Mights @Pekedipeks: 3-4 MoDo @MCH_98: 4-3 Mights Player to watch: @Maykan (5) BushWhackers vs Sawolanche (6) (written by @Pekedipeks) This is a matchup between two teams who both got confident series victories in the previous round. BushWhackers had no mercy in sweeping their opponent Seinäjoki Noms, and Sawolanche got a 4-1 win respectably against all our predictions versus xBOTS. In this series, we will see a matchup of two teams adapting to each other's well-organized playing structures to decide the semifinalist. However, one of the most interesting key points will be the showdown of two rock-solid goalies, @HiBaZiBa- 89,69 SV%, 5 Shutouts, 1.11 GAA and @I_TERTTU_I 88.19 SV%, 4 Shutouts, 1.42 GAA. It is also worth mentioning that in the playoffs, BushWhackers center @IJepuxI has done a better job on faceoffs (55,2%) than Sawolanche center @maffe92 (47,2%), so let's see if that affects which team will be the more aggressive side when it comes to plays directly from the puck drop. Predictions: @hifk_FANI: (plays for Bushwhackers) @Pensasmies: (plays for Bushwhackers) @Pekedipeks: 4-3 Bushwhackers @MCH_98: 4-1 Bushwhackers Player to watch: @I_LaiTi_I Follow the Playoff streams: Please post dates, times and links for streams in the comments of this news story and social media, to help everyone find your team streams. Who do you think will win each series? Let us know in the comments!