ECL '22 Spring Elite Playoffs: Quarterfinals Preview - A Shot At Glory

It's time to drop the puck also for the Elite playoffs! We're in for a multitude of exciting series and as last time, hREDS have the opportunity to extend their historical run even further. Everyone else is here to spoil their party, and to get their own shot at glory.

Structure & Prize Pool

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5.5 ECL Elite Playoffs

In ECL Elite, 8 out of 16 teams will make the playoffs. Teams that finish in places 9-12 will neither play in the playoffs nor be subject to relegation. Teams that finish in places 13, 14 & 15 will each play the ECL Pro semifinalists, as well as the Pro runner up – these matchups will be BO7 series wherein the winners stay in / proceed to ECL Elite for the next season. In addition to this, the 16th placed team will be instantly relegated to ECL Pro for the next season.

Schedule

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10.6.1 ECL Elite

Playoff Schedule

• Quarterfinals: 30.05 – 02.06 (BO7)
• Semifinals: 05.06 – 08.06 (BO7)
• Finals: 17.06 – 18.06 (BO7)
• Grand Finals: 19.06 (BO7) [If necessary]

The previews were written in cooperation by @jahajaha93 & @ose16.
 

(1)  hREDS vs Conquer Gaming  (8)

TOP SCORER (Regular season)
Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen 29 GP, 28+35=63 vs Valtteri @Vire30 Vireaho 30 GP, 17+23=40

GOALTENDER (Regular season)
Filip @Faze91- Azri 25 GP, 22 W, 87,86 SV%, 1.00 GAA, 10 SO vs Axel @MonkeyHeadAF Falck 30 GP, 15 W, 80,79 SV%, 2.27 GAA, 6 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
26-2-2 vs 15-12-3

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
1-2 OT, 0-1 OT

We'll be the first ones to admit we were dead wrong about Conquer Gaming, as our season preview ranked them at 15th in a relegation battle spot. Now we're all glad to see them fighting in the playoffs in a very interesting battle against the back-to-back champions hREDS, who as expected, had a great run throughout the regular season gaining them the top seed. The reigning champions are on a run unlike anything else ever seen before in the ECL, with a chance of extending their streak even further, cementing themselves as the sole dynasty above anyone else in European virtual hockey history, but this is just the beginning of the journey and as everyone else at this point, they're still 12 wins away from ultimate glory. We've raved on for what seems like years about how good of a team hREDS are and the fact has hardly escaped anyone at this point - the stats speak for themselves, but one thing above everything else is their special teams excellence. hREDS' combined special teams is by far the best in the leagueand their 97.44% penalty kill leaves no room for the opposing power play to succeed. 

Despite the dominant performance throughout by hREDS, quite surprisingly, Conquer Gaming really had their number in the regular season managing to win both of the matchups between the two in overtime. In those games, Conquer goaltender Axel @MonkeyHeadAF Falck stood on his head but perhaps even more impressively, Conquer managed to defend as a unit, keeping hREDS away from the high danger zones. Winning two regular season games is very different from taking home an entire seven game series though, and we'll eagerly be waiting to see what new tricks Conquer might have up their sleeve. One could imagine that Conquer will need to try securing a bit more possession play, which starts by winning faceoffs - this puts centerman Rony @rGinnu Kinnunen in a crucial role against his counterpart Perttu @Beniittto Kemppainen. 

Although Conquer managed to secure two wins in the regular season, we don't expect hREDS to be rattled by those mishaps and they'll make life very difficult for their opposition in this series. It's hard to imagine Conquer sneaking away with any more than one win in the series. hREDS advances, 4-1.

(2)  Frölunda HC vs Roots Gaming  (7)

TOP SCORER (Regular season)
Paul @PleeMaker Arontie 29 GP, 33+36=69 vs Linus @Limu95 Christiansson 30 GP, 20+25=45

GOALTENDER (Regular season)
Casper @ICappeI Lundgren 29 GP, 22 W, 82,8 SV%, 1.48 GAA, 6 SO vs Tomas @Mehiiss Laitinen 16 GP, 9 W, 80.3 SV%, 2.44 GAA, 3 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
23-4-3 vs 15-9-6

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
1-2, 4-2

Before the season there were speculation about how the new Frölunda HC lineup would work but now it is safe to say it was a good change for them. Now it's time to see how their game will work in the playoffs. It was great to see Joonas @Patzlaf Paatiala getting his game going in the defensive position after playing as a center for this team before. Their newcomer Tuukka @FlyerKungen Kuha brought good things to their offense as Frölunda scored 94 goals in the regular season which was most in the league by any team. That was probably one of the reasons why Paul @PleeMaker Arontie was on fire with 33 goals and 69 points making him the best goal scorer and point producer. We will see how Frölunda's playoff journey will go but for sure Indians have only one thing in their mind and it's winning the ECL Elite title after a couple of disappointing seasons. 

Roots Gaming finished their first season in 9th place but this season which was their second in the Elite division, they managed to catch the second last playoff spot. Roots have taken great and steady steps forward so it is interesting to see where this team is heading in the future. Their scoring power is well balanced and every player is able to take a leading role when it is needed. Defense is a really big part of the offense as you can see from Niko @vVoDee Vottonen's and Joonas @LE1PAKONE(NordZman_) Nordman's combined 21 goals. The first one won the leagues defense goal scoring title with 14 goals. One of the biggest keys in Roots' development is that their offensive trio has played together from the start. 

This series will be a good first test for the new Frölunda HC. One of the key factors will be the goaltending game like always in the playoffs. Tomas @Mehiiss Laitinen will face one the best goalies this league has had with Casper @ICappeI Lundgren between the pipes. Roots' defense have to maybe get a little bit away from their offensive interests when they are protecting the net against Frölunda. Winning one game in the regular season will bring confidence to Roots' game but there is just too many factors against them. Frölunda will start their playoff journey with 4-1 series win. 

(3)  SAWO ESPORTS vs HAVU Gaming  (6)

TOP SCORER (Regular season)
Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen 30 GP, 32+28=60 vs Wille @willekunq Juntunen 30 GP, 25+14=39

GOALTENDER (Regular season)
Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen 30 GP, 21 W, 83,33 SV%, 1.8 GAA, 4 SO vs Hannes @Hansulinho Kettunen 30 GP, 15 W, 80,00 SV%, 1.83 GAA, 3 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
21-7-2 vs 15-9-6

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
1-0 OT, 4-0

SAWO ESPORTS had a second great regular season in a row. This season, their young group is looking for success in the playoffs too. Last season SAWO was sent out of the playoffs in 6 games in the first round. That boosted their hunger even more coming to this season and they are now a more experienced team. Their new player for this season Teemu @Teemuyy Polttila has been a great fit for their game style. Like last season, dynamic duo Jere @jxrska Laukka and Valtteri @Vattuyy Virtanen has been really powerful and both finished in the top 5 among point producers. Sawo's game hasn’t had any weak points as they scored the third most goals in the league but also let in the third least goals. This lineup has a huge amount of potential but now they have the chance to take that next step and show their best game in the big games also. 

HAVU Gaming's start for the season was a little difficult. They were below the playoff line for a long time and also tried different combinations in the lineup. At the end of the day they got their game going with their longtime goalie Oskari @SibeIius Grönroos being in defense and defender Wille @willekunq Juntunen stepping up to offense. Their comeback player from JYP Jyvaskyla, Ilmari @Buantso(Puantso) Lehkonen didn’t have the best season in terms of scoring and hasn't really brught what we're used to seeing from him - yet. Only 11 goals in the regular season is a new low for him and he has played since the first ECL. That and many other things can be turned around here in the playoffs by HAVU. One of the most or maybe the most experienced playoff teams needs to find a way to succeed in the playoffs as old every season finalist has had couple of tougher seasons in last years. 

This series is going to be a battle of young hungry talents going against experienced many time champions who are looking to get back to the top 4. Havu was only 9th when it comes to goal scoring and that will not get easier in this series as they are facing Niklas @uhNikke Nieminen who once again had a great season being 2nd in the league on saving percentage. Fact is that these two has played 4 games against each other in the last two seasons Sawo winning them all and Havu only scoring 2 goals total in those games including 3 shoutouts for Sawo. Havu´s experience will make this series tough for Sawo but at the end of the day karelian´s goal scoring power will be too much for the old champions new defense and Sawo will make to the second round in 6 games. 

(4)  Örebro Hockey vs GOONS  (5)

TOP SCORER (Regular season)
Jussi @JaKurrii Koivuniemi 30 GP, 20+27=47 vs Arttu @laitineen64 Laitinen 30 GP, 27+29=56

GOALTENDER (Regular season)
Elie @eliekamel87 Kamel 30 GP, 20 W, 81,65 SV%, 2.00 GAA, 6 SO vs Ville @Supreex Korhonen 18 GP, 11 W, 79.61 SV%, 2.33 GAA, 2 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
20-8-2 vs 18-9-3

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
1-5, 4-3 OT

These two opened the season against each other back in early April, and that is quite a while ago. Even some changes have happened since then on the GOONS side, as the team elected to bring in Veeti @Wenger (re_Wenger) Paloneva from FILADELPHIA ACADEMY as they chose to sit high profile defenseman Joel @jtorro-_- Tourunen after a somewhat troubling start to the season. If GOONS were expected to finally have a breakout season, Örebro were one of those teams that had some clouds on the horizon to start the season, at least in the minds of several doubters including us. The outfit lead by defenseman Tero @Terodee Dahlström had acquired Väinö @Pikkardz Pikkarainen to center their squad and whereas they seemed like a potential roster, no one could have expected them to perform in the way they did. 

While both of these squads are already rather experienced teams, they hold some of the games most exciting talent in their rosters and they're known for flashing some of that top end skill from time to time. However, they can equally have an off game and fluctuate in form quite heavily, which could indicate some high scoring games ahead for us. One thing that is certain is that the goaltenders will have their work cut out form them, and Örebro will be icing Elie @eliekamel87 Kamel, who has solidified himself among the best in the league and can earn his team a win on any given day. GOONS, on the other hand, have an interesting choice to make. They have two very experienced goalies to pick from in Mika @FinKonna Paasikontu and Ville @Supreex Korhonen. They can't go wrong with either one and most likely the choice could come down to availability or a predetermined 50/50 split. 

In this series, the winner will be the team that can string together the most consistent performances and do that at their highest level. Örebro is coming into the playoffs in excellent form and in my books, have a slight edge which is why they're my pick in six games.