ECL 10 Neo Playoffs: Round 1

NHLGamers,

As I lost against @jahajaha93 in the final table of the ECL Staff Poker Event, it is I who have to present the playoffs of the second edition of ECL Neo. All joking aside, this almost new division has gathered an incredible audience. Thirty-two teams had launched the first season of Neo, half of which had entered the playoffs. This time, eighty-three teams registered, offering sixty-four seats at the forefront of the playoffs ... Absolutely extraordinary.

Let's be honest, making an exhaustive presentation of this first round of playoffs is unthinkable. To try to find out more clearly, we have chosen the unstoppable option of statistics. Point by point we will draw up a Top 5 of the regular season, in the most factual way. These figures, due to the inequity of the groups, will have to be weighted. The fact remains that they still give some notable indications.

Scoring leaders (Points) – Individuals
1- kim_johan, RGT - 112 points (18 games)
2- Xx_ZetterberG40, RGT - 104 points (18 games)
3- santtu3333, RGT - 88 points (18 games)
4- Pathen-21-, NC - 85 points (17 games)
5- CMB-wf-, FK - 77 points (18 games)

Scoring leaders (Goals) – Individuals
1- kim_johan, RGT - 59 goals (18 games)
2- flgr93, NC - 46 goals (15 games)
3- Kihan64, POM - 46 goals (16 games)
4- otakiinnijossaat, GT - 41 goals (16 games)
5- andreaskakan, EHK - 40 goals (16 games)

Scoring leaders (Assits) – individuals
1- Xx_ZetterberG40, RGT - 66 assists (18 games)
2- CMB-wf-, FK - 58 assists (18 games)
3- kim_johan, RGT - 53 assists (18 games)
4- santtu3333, RGT - 52 assists (18 games)
5- Pathen-21-, NC - 50 assists (17 games)

Save percentage leaders – Individuals (10 games played at least)
1- Fcoy_faze, DIF - 89.8% (16 games)
2- l_-JigSawG-_l, SVK - 88.19% (12 games)
3- FoxGoalie, EVD - 87.66% (16 games)
4- sorkpippi, PHC - 87.12% (16 games)
5- Empuuz_24, TVS - 86.84% (10 games)

GAA leaders – Individuals – Individuals (10 games played at least)
1- Fcoy_faze, DIF - 0.94 (16 games)
2- Empuuz_24, TVS - 1 (10 games)
3- FoxGoalie, EVD - 1.19 (16 games)
4- sorkpippi, PHC - 1.31 (16 games)
5- snaasigi, SFG - 1.33 (18 games)

Shutout leaders – Individuals (10 games played at least)
1- FoxGoalie, EVD - 7 (16 games)
2- snaasigi, SFG - 6 (18 games)
3- Fcoy_faze, DIF - 6 (16 games)
4- Xx_sidthekid_87, RGT - 5 (18 games)
5- AltenPfleger_89, UKN - 4 (18 games)

Defensemen scoring leaders (Points) – Individuals
1- Idko_5, RGT - 57 points (18 games)
2- Much1979, NC - 34 points (17 games)
3- Sirzuxie, EHK - 31 points (12 games)
4- juhkis96, POM - 31 points (16 games)
5- CuteTerminator7, RLJ - 27 points (16 games)

Defensemen scoring leaders (Goals) – Individuals
1- Idko_5, RGT - 17 goals (18 games)
2- L_Karlsson97, CWC - 7 goals (6 games)
3- Anzinho8, GT - 7 goals (12 games)
4- Alessandro3891, JNS - 7 (13 games)
5- juhkis96, POM - 7 (16 games)

Defensemen scoring leaders (Assists) – Individuals
1- Idko_5, RGT - 40 assists (18 games)
2- Much1979, NC - 33 assists (17 games)
3- Sirzuxie, EHK - 29 assists (12 games)
4- juhkis96, POM - 24 assists (16 games)
5- Aksuboi94, RGT - 23 assists (12 games)

Power play goals leaders – Individuals
1- flgr93, NC - 9 goals (15 games)
2- JF1891, DIF - 9 goals (16 games)
- Mwigh, DPS - 9 goals (16 games)
4- kim_johan, RGT - 9 goals (18 games)
5- otakiinnijossaat, GT - 8 goals (16 games)

Short-handed goals leaders – Individuals
1- bambulexx, BB - 2 goals (6 games)
2- xreflex54, GFT - 2 goals (7 games)
3- Lilk1046, CHC - 2 goals (11 games)
4- echannover, FH - 2 goals (14 games)
5- Goegi91, BR - 2 goals (15 games)

Game-winning goals leaders – Individuals
1- kim_johan, RGT - 9 goals (18 games)
2- otakiinnijossaat, GT - 8 goals (16 games)
- Kihan64, POM - 8 goals (16 games)
4- Fuchs2534, WHC - 7 goals (15 games)
5- Zimowski95, FK - 7 goals (16 games)

Hits leaders – Individuals
1- gacorigavecit17, LAT - 211 (16 games)
2- Lek3b4b, POM - 186 (16 games)
3- Bothniablod, MOI - 183 (16 games)
4- Venca29, CZL - 181 (16 games)
5- Cigi19889, HYB - 153 (16 games)

Penalty box leaders – Individuals
1- bonny2275, FH - 49 PIM (14 games)
2- gandy6666cz, CSS - 47 PIM (15 games)
3- Venca29, CZL - 46 PIM (16 games)
4- LaxenHD, MHC - 42 PIM (10 games)
5- djadidai, MFZ - 38 PIM (14 games)

Tripping from almost the front side leader
1- ShawnHeins44, CHC – way too much (10 games)

Shooting leaders – Individuals
1- kim_johan, RGT - 128 shots (18 games)
2- otakiinnijossaat, GT - 121 shots (16 games)
3- andreaskakan, EHK - 115 shots (16 games)
4- sgt_soccer, WHC - 114 shots (16 games)
5- Chilenco, EHK - 107 shots (16 games)

NHLGamer’s ECL 10 Neo regular season Awards
ECL Neo MVP : Fcoy_faze, DIF
Best forward : kim_johan, RGT
Best defenseman : Idko_5, RGT
Best goalie : Fcoy_faze, DIF

Statement from Casper @ICappeI Lundgren, Cover Player of ECL 10 and goalie of Linkoping HC
“I want to congratulate Fcoy_faze for being named the MVP in Neo. Being named the MVP is the biggest individual award you can win. Seeing it from a goaltender perspective it means that you have together with your teammates created the best possible opportunity for you to perform at your highest level. I had the chance to play with him recently and I was really impressed with his performance. I felt right away that this is a goalie that we will see on the biggest stage very soon. Once again congratulations with your award and good luck to you and Järnkaminerna in the playoffs!”

Goals scored – Team stats
1- Ringette HC - 153 goals (18 games)
2- Niederrhein Canucks - 118 goals (18 games)
3- Pahat Pommittajat - 101 goals (16 games)
4- Bull Dozer - 97 goals (18 games)
5- Fearless Knights - 93 goals (18 games)

Goal against – Team stats
1- Jarnkaminerna - 15 goals (16 games)
2- EV Duisburg - 19 goals (16 games)
3- Taavetin Starat - 20 goals (16 games)
4- Polarbears HC - 21 goals (16 games)
5- Pahat Pommittajat - 22 goals (16 games)

Powerplay leaders – Team stats
1- Niederrhein Canucks - 47.83% (18 games)
2- Redlight Jokers - 41.67% (18 games)
3- ScandinavianFishingGroup - 36.36% (18 games)
4- Cancun Pirates - 35.29% (16 games)
5- Grilli Tulille - 34.62% (16 games)

Penalty killing leaders – Team stats
1- Morganchipsen HC - 100% (73 PIM)
2- Honeypunch - 100% (59 PIM)
3- Dompa Poppers - 100% (56 PIM)
4- Territorio Hockey - 100% (49 PIM)
5- Ringette HC - 100% (45 PIM)

Now let's move on to how the playoffs should then be played, here's a short quote from the rulebook:

Lainaa

5.7 ECL Neo Playoffs

In ECL Neo, 64 teams will make the playoffs. These 64 teams will be made up of the top 7 from each of the 9 groups, with the final playoff spot being allocated to the highest team remaining ranked on PPG. As is the case with the ECL Lite, the teams will be seeded based on finishing position within their group, as well as the tiebreakers mentioned in 11.3.

10.5.4 ECL Neo Playoff Schedule

• Playoffs Round 1: 10.5 - 16.5
• Playoffs Round 2: 17.5 - 23.5
• Playoffs 3: 24.5 - 30.5
• Quarterfinals: 31.5 - 6.6
• Semifinals: 7.6 - 13.6
• Finals: 14.6 - 20.6

Here are your first round matchups:

Ringette HC (1) - CSSR Legends (64)

Pahat Pommittajat (2) - Support Linne (63)

Taavetin Starat (3) - Territorio Hockey (62)

Jarnkaminerna (4) - Bonusambers (61)

Meisselit (5) - Arctic Blaze500x500.png Arctic Blaze (60)

ScandinavianFishingGroup (6) - HC Berlin Eagles (59)

Grilli Tulille (7) - CaeSarS (58)

Bahamas Mamas (8) - Hirviklubi (57)

Suomen Dynamo (9) - Black Ice Guards (56)

Veikkolan Veikot500x500.png Veikkolan Veikot (10) - Latvian Warriors (55)

ECL8 Lite - Polarbears HC.png Polarbears HC (11) - KulmalaHengaus (54)

Otukset (12) - ECL8 Lite - Varrisuon Toverit.png Varissuon Toverit (53)

EV Duisburg.png EV Duisburg (13) - Eituumielee (52)

Niederrhein Canucks (14) - HC Hybridi (51)

Fearless Knights (15) - ALLSTAR TAMPERE (50)

ECL8 Lite - Savo Bears.png Savo Bears (16) - Redlight Jokers (49)

HC Grizzlies (17) - Morganchipsen HC (48)

NHL4you Gaming (18) - Puliveivarit (47)

Gentlemen's Club (19) - Bauer Rangers GmbH (46)

Wisby Islanders (20) - BurritoBrothers (45)

Masiina (21) - Red Devils HC (44)

Lassen Lampaat (22) - EIS Force Hockey (43)

Thunder United (23) - Honeypunch (42)

Dompa Poppers (24) - Evolution HC (41)

Wolfsrudel HC (25) - Vemppaosasto (40)

UKnighted HC (26) - CZ JDOUCI NA SMRT SK500x500.png CZ JDOUCI NA SMRT SK (39)

Oulunsalon Pallo (27) - Charleswood Chiefs (38)

Enkoping HKS (28) - Bull Dozer (37)

The Mighty Skunks (29) - Asgard prospects (36)

SLOVAK VETERANS (30) - Russian Lightning.png Russian Lightning (35)

MAXIMUM EFFECT (31) - TeamHazard (34)

Beastie Boys (32) - EBR eSports NEO (33)

The series not to miss : Beastie Boys (32) - EBR eSports NEO (33)
Focus on this series which seems to be announced as one of the most closed. Beastie Boys (4th seed in Group 9) and EBR eSports Neo (4th seed in Group 5) have had fairly similar trajectories in the regular season. Ten wins and six losses each, these two teams are likely to go head-to-head during this first round of playoffs.
In the register of goals scored, advantage to Beastie Boys with 65 goals against 51 for EBR. On the other hand, the German team takes the advantage in defense with only 32 goals conceded against 40 against their adversaries. The two defensive special units neutralize each other by being fairly close: 89% for Beastie Boys, 85% for EBR. But the Germans are making a big difference in powerplay with 27% of advantage situations converted against 10% at Beastie Boys.
NHLGamer's prediction: we will probably need a Game 5

NB: We draw your attention to the fact that all the statistics given here are for information only on the basis of the ranking elements of the NHLGamer site. A large part of them are however erroneous due to the fact that the game reports are not entered with sufficient rigor or vigilance, in particular concerning the goals scored in powerplay or shorthanded. For example, in Group 1 the NHLGamer Staff noted nearly sixty insufficiently reported goals. It is important for the game experience to be complete through reliable statistics that this part of the team coaching staff work is understood as essential. Thank you very much for your attention.