ECL '23 Spring Lite: Playoff Picture - Who finish the strongest?

SportsGamers,

The battles have been hard in the Lite division this season, and with the stakes being as high as they are, some massive games still remain in the last few days of the regular season. The last games will be played by the end of Wednesday, May 24th and Playoffs will kick off on Tuesday, May 30th.

Group 1

Dark Wild have secured the #1 spot in this group in a tremendously close battle with Technical Disaster. Tupsukorvat and RoKi are chasing Stadin Kingit for the last available Playoff spot and it looks like one of those teams will be the odd one out. RoKi and Tupsukorvat will be playing each other in a massive matchup that could decide either teams fate. Stadin Kingit will be facing Timrå IK in their last games of the season and have surely budgeted a full 4 points from that double-header. Quite surprisingly both HC Korobka and EHC Olten eSports, who had sensational seasons in ECL '23 Winter Core have stuggled massively to translate their game to the Lite level. 

Group 2

Nappula are looking like a lock for 1st place and they are strong candidates to take the #1 seed spot into the playoffs, mainly fighting against Supernatural & Mustaa Kultaa from Group 3 and Skellefteå AIK from Group 4 for that advantageous position. Below the Playoff line, Lions Academy, EHC Dinamo Riga and Ducktales BK all have theoretical possibilities of making the Playoffs with some games in hand on the teams above, but they'll need to be at their sharpest in order to make that happen. A big matchup between Lions Academy and Fiilis Hockey will most likely determine the fate of the latter team and also set the bar to make the Playoffs at a minimum of 32 points if Fiilis fail to come away with any in those bouts. Södertälje SK will make a climb towards the middle of the pack to cap off their season.

Group 3

This is the only group in which the Playoff teams seem to be solidified already, only some minor movement within the top eight might occur and the most interesting fight leading down to the wire will be had between the top teams Supernatural and Mustaa Kultaa. Both of these teams have four games in hand on the top team Boost HC. Supernatural will have some sweaty games to cap off the regular season against Frölunda HC Academy and Nurnberg IceTigers Esport, whereas Mustaa Kultaa have more favorable matchups against non-Playoff teams Woodhands and Rahinage left in ther schedule. Mustaa Kultaa is also by far the highest scoring team in the division, chased only by Group 2's Ultimatum, and winger @Allupekkaz is topping the scoring charts with @vepdsssss (werppi) in pursuit as a result.

Group 4

Skellefteå AIK looks like strong candidates to take home that #1 seed for the Playoffs and as stated, they are fighting for that spot with Group 2's Nappula and Group 3's Supernatural and Mustaa Kultaa.  A new promising goaltender in the form of @Jonte05_ has emerged in their crease this season as he currently leads all goalies with over 10 games played in SV% and has an impressive 6 shutouts to his name this season. He could be an interesting name for several higher level teams in the offseason if Skellefteå can't hold on to him. Close to the Playoff line we could see Chiefzz HC or Deggendorfer SC Esports drop out if they are unable to close out points in their last few games. Mora IK are in hot pursuit of that last available spot with 16 points still up for grabs.