ECL '22 Winter: Pro Finals - Who will grab the golden ticket?

SportsGamers,

We're going to be in for a treat on Monday and Tuesday night with the ECL '22 Winter Pro Finals. Two very hungry teams have paved their way to this stage, and they're approaching the big games from very different angles. While JYP is eager to get back to the highest level of competition after a slip-up last season, Reality Check has only recently made a return to ECL action after an abrupt halt to their story after the ECL 10 Pro season.

Both teams have a lot to prove and we can certainly expect some fireworks come Monday night! Who will grab the golden ticket, for a crack at the ECL Elite title in the Spring season?

 Reality Check (1) vs  JYP Jyväskylä (2)
TOP SCORER
Harri @Pursuitti Haaksiala 19 GP, 15+20=35 vs Ilmari @Buantso Lehkonen 18 GP, 11+18=29

GOALTENDER
Sebastian @FINSeRe Remes 19 GP, 12 W, 84,65 SV%, 1.63 GAA, 3 SO vs Kasper @Kaz_zu Ramstedt 18 GP, 12 W, 80,92 SV%, 1.61 GAA, 6 SO

REGULAR SEASON RECORD
24-4-2 vs 23-5-2
 

Let's start off with JYP Jyväskylä, who have had an interesting run over the past 6 months or so. ECL 12 was a flat out disaster for the experienced squad, as it was evident that the joy from their game was gone and a soft performance led to them losing the divisional spot among the European top 16. After acquiring former HAVU Gaming X-Factor Ilmari @Buantso Lehkonen to bolster their offense, expectations were set high for the hurricanes, but the start of the season looked about as difficult as the end of their last one. In fact, despite eventually recovering from a terrible start, JYP have never really achieved the level of excellence that could be expected from them. Perhaps the finals is their chance to set the record straight? 

Reality Check had a time of absence after a sensational ECL 10 Pro campaign, that put them in the Elite Qualifiers to end that season. Now they've bested their old record and are one series win away from securing that fabled Elite spot. Now it's time for their current ensemble to prove themselves against a JYP that on paper at least, looks like a very tough opponent to beat. Whereas JYP have had some struggles along the way, the same doesn't apply to Reality Check, who have marched on towards their spot in the finals without too much of a hassle all season long. Only in the playoffs has the team needed to work a bit harder, and after two consecutive game seven series, it's easy to state that they should at least be mentally prepared for what's to come. 

Statistically speaking, both squads look very similar, with some minor variations to their respective styles of play. JYP has that traditional cycle game down to a tee and they've been utilizing it effectively, at least throughout the playoffs. Reality Check, on the other hand, like to use their defensemen quite much, even in the offensive zone. Both teams have a clear #1 breakout man, and we're speaking of Väinö @vSilenttio Pietilä for JYP and Jesse @jezbaru Ruuskanen for Reality Check. Especially the latter has been a bit of a puck hog for his team, having carried the bisquit for almost a third more than some of his teammates. One thing to note is that JYP is definitely the more well-rounded team, which should gain them the advantage in a long series. 

When it comes to the goaltending duel, we're in for an exciting one. The JYP netminder is one of the most interesting prospects out there, as Kasper @Kaz_zu Ramstedt is looking for his opportunity to break out and establish himself as a winning goaltender at a higher level. Facing him is season 1 veteran, and inaugural season champion Sebastian @FINSeRe Remes, who has definitely been around and seen it all when it comes to competitive gaming on the European ice. It's tough to give an edge in either direction, but you could speculate that whereas @Kaz_zu has the higher ceiling, @FINSeRe is a more reliable and steady backstopper. If the youngster is on top of his game, however, JYP can rest easy.

We're thinking this one isn't going to be one of those 'blink and you'll miss it'-series. It'll be a tight battle and it's going to be a struggle to find high-quality scoring chances. Expect to see a lot of greasy goals and for the teams to resort to finding deflections if the middle doesn't open up. In the end, JYP Jyväskylä will regain their spot in Elite by winning a game seven.

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