ECL 11 Neo: Mid-season report - Groups 6-10

NHLGamers,

Welcome to the 2nd half of the ECL11  Neo mid-season report where we’ll look at Groups 6 through 10. Let’s get back to it, shall we!

Group 6

Group 6 looks to have a clear winner already, with Latvian Warriors cruising in to a comfortable 5 point lead over nearest challengers Bone Breakers, who they won both games against earlier in the season. MOGA and EHC Traktor Chelyabinsk sit behind in 3rd in 4th place, but the playoff battle in the group remains wide open. Only 7 points separates MOGA, EHC Traktor Chelyabinsk, HC Poteropojat, Nordic Eagles, Etuna Eagles, Acta Non Verba and Aina Pystyy, with some of the lower placed in these teams already averaging a higher points per game average than the teams above them, with several games in hand over their rivals.

Etuna Eagles will battle this week with Acta Non Verba, and Nordic eagles, the teams above and below them, in what will shape a fascinating playoff race in group 6. With the games coming thick and fast for these sides, the playoff race in group 6 could end with as little as 2 points between 7 teams. SC Rackelhahn eV, who sit bottom of the group with just a point will also play key games vs Bone Breakers and MOGA. While Rackelhahn can no longer qualify for the playoffs, their solitary win came in OT vs the Group leading Latvian Warriors, in their most recent round of games and they will take confidence from this going into the end of their season.

Key team stats

Most points per game:  Latvian Warriors (1.8)
Most goals per game:   Latvian Warriors (3.08)
Least goals against per game:  Latvian Warriors (1.42)
Best power play:  SC Rackelhahn eV (40%)
Best penalty kill:  MOGA (91.67)

Group 7

UKnighted HC hold a comfortable lead in Group 7 at the midway point. With just 1 loss to their names this season, and holding two wins over nearest rivals IHL Rams, they certainly hold advantage in the group. The most likely side to cause them problems is Masiina. Who also hold one loss, but winning their 2 extra games will leave them tied at the top of Group 7, with UKnighted and Masiina to meet in the final round of fixtures, neither side can afford to slip up in their remaining games. Elsewhere in the top half of the group, Karhukissat are sitting pretty in 4th place but 3 losses at this early stage may have already turned their table topping dreams into a damp squib.

In the playoff battle, Ballbusters HC and Gleumes Hockey Krefeld occupy the final playoff spots, holding a considerable points advantage over the teams below them. In 7th place, most likely playoff spot challengers IHL Royals can still look to spring a surprise and overtake Krefeld but it will prove a difficult challenge. Games against HC Ice Time, Russian Ghouls, and leaders Uknighted leaves the Royals needing a minimum of 6 points prior to their last round of games which sees them play against Krefeld.

At the bottom, Czech side The Hockey Crew, have disappointed this season. Holding just a single win over fellow strugglers Russian Ghouls. HC Ice Time also sit outside the playoff race, with their defensive struggles being the cause of their woes, as their offence has been effective despite their league position.

Key team stats

Most points per game:  UKnighted HC (1.83)
Most goals per game:   UKnighted HC (8)
Least goals against per game:   UKnighted HC (1.17)
Best power play:   UKnighted HC (44.74%)
Best penalty kill:  UKnighted HC (89.47%)

Group 8

A top of the table encounter tonight between EHC Tatneft AK Bars and the Finnish Finishers may well decide the winners of the group if either side can take the 4 points on offer in regulation, be sure to keep an eye out on twitch for these games! The Russians, who hold a 3-point advantage going into tonight’s games will see this as an opportunity to put the Group out of sight if they can put the Finishers away early.

In the playoff spots, it remains extremely tight. BackDoorLoosters hold 3 points over their group rivals but just a single point separates x6tence Hockey, HC Palosaari and Team Czechoslavakia and French side Remparts Tours Esport 2. These sides all play each other in the coming week in what is the most cutthroat playoff race in ECL Neo this season. As Spain’s solitary representatives in ECL, x6tence will be hoping they can carry the flag into the playoffs but face a tough schedule to allow this to happen.

At the bottom, Swiss Seniors, HC Korobka and French Rookies are all well out of the playoff race. The Rookies sit bottom of the group but and face Korobka tonight in battle to move off the bottom. For the Seniors, while the playoffs are gone, their remaining games against Finishers and Palosaari gives them a huge chance to affect the final group standings should they pull off a shock.

Key team stats

Most points per game:  EHC Tatneft AK Bars (1.71)
Most goals per game:   EHC Tatneft AK Bars (6.71)
Least goals against per game:  Finnish Finishers (1.92)
Best power play:   Finnish Finishers (41.67%)
Best penalty kill:  EHC Tatneft AK Bars (100%)

Group 9

Group 9 sees both a 3 team race for Group winner and a 6 team race for the playoffs. At the top, Vemppaosasto sit with a 3 point lead over Dynamo Dragons. Vemppaosasto however have the benefit of games against strugglers Epinal HC Esport and playoff challengers Uudenmaan Oilers to round of their race for the top. Dynamo Dragons face fellow Challengers The Real Rookies in the final round of fixtures however. The Rookies are the most physical side in Neo this season, racking up 296 hits so far this season.

Herforder Ice Dragons debut season sees them hold a comfortable lead over the other playoff challengers. Just three points separates the next four teams, Enkopings SK HK eSport, Uudenmaan Oilers, EASHL Russian, and Motherfreakerz. Of these 4, Motherfreakerz hold the advantage in scheduling with 2 games to play against bottom side Karvanakit, maximum points here followed by a huge match this week vs the Oilers would see them sneak into the playoffs for the first time in 4 attempts.

Karvanakits position in the table could be false however, as they are yet to play three of the four teams that lie directly above them, and while wins in all six of these games is unlikely, it would still be enough to pull them in to the playoff race also.

Key team stats

Most points per game:  Vemppaosasto (1.71)
Most goals per game:   Vemppaosasto (4.64)
Least goals against per game:   Dynamo Dragons (1.5)
Best power play:  Dynamo Dragons (43.48%)
Best penalty kill:  Vemppaosasto (94.12%)

Group 10

Group 10 sees possibly the strangest table in ECL Neo. With the race for the top underway, All, 6 teams in the playoff spots can still win the Group. Due to this, all 6 teams sit at least 8 points clear of the teams outside the playoffs, having played the same number of games, or less. Outside the playoff places, both Swiss Tigers, EHC Ice breakers sit tied at the bottom with just one win each. Annecy Hockey eSport, sit above in 8th but need 6 wins from their final 6 to mount a very unlikely playoff challenge. Taskubulis in 7th need the same.

At the top, a 2nd game loss for EHC Amur against Annecy leaves them also needing straight wins to secure the group, despite having beat nearest challengers Monkey Brotherhood twice earlier in the group. With the Brotherhood unlikely to slip up tonight against Ice Breakers, it’s all to play for in the top 2. Ettan IK play both teams in the deciding week of fixtures and will want to prove that they can also challenge the top teams, with just 4 points separating them from the top its everything to play for Ettan.

For Wisby Islanders this week, they will look to right things on offence as their 15 minutes on attack against Deggendorfer SC eSports mustered them just 3 goals, and zero wins.

Key team stats

Most points per game:  EHC Amur (1.67)
Most goals per game:   EHC Amur (5.92)
Least goals against per game:  Wisby Islanders (2.33)
Best power play:   EHC Amur (60.61%)
Best penalty kill:  Biggie Stockholm (90.91%)

With that, we conclude this second part of our ECL 11 Neo mid-season report. The last half of the season is already underway and now is the time to rack up those extremely important points, we wish all teams good luck in the pursuit of those last playoff spots!