As the regular season has come to an end it's time to look at how we did with our predictions and give you some tips on interesting playoff matchups to follow from the first round!
Firstly, let's take a look at how we did with our predictions for the regular season, in the projections article for the ECL '24: Spring season we listed 16 potential cup contenders/dark horses and every single one of those teams made their way to the playoffs. As we predicted there were also many successful regular seasons from teams not included in the projections. For example, MoDo Hockey, Red Bull Munich eSports and Neloskenttä managed to secure spots within the top 10 seeds.
ECL '24: Spring - Lite - Round 1 schedule:
- Sunday 19.5
- Tuesday 21.5
- Wednesday 22.5
The deadline for Round 1 is Saturday, May 25th. Should teams have any issues scheduling, please reach out to support immediately.
Let's take a look at a few playoff matchups that are definitely worth keeping an eye on.
(1) Nordic Stars VS Hirvikolari (32) 
In this matchup we will see two teams with vastly different regular seasons, the number one seed versus the worst seed in the playoffs. This series we measure the playoff level of Nordic Stars. Hirvikolari can play with zero pressure because Nordic Stars has been a team considered the biggest contender for the title since the start of the season.
Prediction:
@Pensasmies Nordic Stars 4-0
The Oldtimers (2) VS SSK Academy (31) 
With a regular season like this, The Oldtimers most likely are favorites in every series these playoffs ahead of the finals.@Werppi has been tearing this Lite division apart with 87 points (34+53), and we all know a team that can score always has that second guy not far behind in points, and this season was no exception with @japi_kuittaa. While scoring almost 4 goals a game in the regular season is fun and all, this SSK Academy team won’t budge that easily. They play good defense and will surely make Oldtimers work for those wins.
SSK Academy is an interesting team with how they play this game, they don’t necessarily play the way most teams do. This can cause some confusion in the Oldtimers team, and SSK need to capitalize on their chances in this series if they want to have a chance. Taking the lead in this Swedish team is @Hellqvist23 who knows how to hold on to the puck, and isn’t afraid to show it. If his teammates can find that next gear this series, it might be an even series.
Player to watch this series: @WerppiWerppi
Predictions:
@hifk_FANI: 4-0 Oldtimers
Anonymous player: 4-1 Oldtimers
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Zenegeim (3) VS Hockeyholics (30) 
This could be an interesting series for plenty of reasons: HockeyHolics pack a powerful punch offensively and could cause Zenegeim problems if they’re not careful. Nothing is a given in the playoffs, especially with @ViSiOnZ97_ putting up an impressive amount of points (35+41) for a team that made the playoffs on the last day of the regular season.
Zenegeim on the other hand made an impressive showing in the regular season, taking down teams left and right. @imosi and @rakkauspakkaus- both seem to have that necessary edge to their game, which can be seen while playing against them. Their defense, consisting of the new defense pairing @Juhaniz- and @Saviinainen, will be a tough thing to crack. With both of them on their A-game these playoffs, this team makes the Pro division, and I bet they go to the playoffs there too.
Player to watch this series: @imosi
Predictions:
@hifk_FANI: 4-0 Zenegeim
Anonymous player: 4-1 Zenegeim
(5) BushWhackers VS Aspyre Dragons (28) 
This playoff pair will be interesting since Aspyre Dragons was the only team that managed to grab more than 3 points from BushWhackers in the regular season. It will be interesting to see if BushWhackers manage to keep their net clean in this series. Aspyre Dragons can be thought of as a team that is seeded way below their actual level.
Nelos Kenttä (9) VS Hopfensmoothie HC (24) 
When the season began, Nelos Kenttä got off to a hot start playing a lot of games and gathering points. It was clear very really on that they were making the playoffs and now they need to polish their sticks and try and beat a central server team that lacks no experience. Nelos Kenttä assistant captain @Welhouu61 with a mere 30 points (11+19) surely doesn't want to end his season in the 1st round? A few more points here and they surely won't.
A team with some interesting names on the roster, Hopfensmoothie HC will try to rely on former Swiss star @Original-SnuS to bring back that magic he produced a few seasons ago in the Elite division. With the difference in the quality of this roster, the rest need to take their game to the absolute top, if the Swiss team wants to have a shot at advancing to the second round.
Player to watch this series: @Revitty-stiga
Predictions:
@hifk_FANI: 4-1 Nelos Kenttä
Anonymous player: 4-2 Nelos Kenttä
(14) 
Both teams have extremely high potential but have had trouble staying consistent, in my opinion, the team who wins this series will go far with the confidence gained from this series. This series will be a showcase of lots of individual skill and the team who manages to play better as a team will go through to the next round.
Prediction:
@Pensasmies xBOTS 3-4
(15) Sack Brothers VS Pata Hellalla (18)
This matchup will be a battle of two quite different playstyles, Sack Brothers with conservative defending and Pata Hellalla with a speedy playstyle that includes a lot of long slapshot passes. I believe that the team that has done their homework better will win the matchup, but this series will be a tight one and can go both ways.
Prediction:
@Pensasmies Sack Brothers 4-3
(16) HC Vadelma VS Technical Disaster (17) 
With both teams having nearly identical seeds, it's easy to say this will be a tight series. Nonetheless, a series where both teams can make it difficult for the other one is always intriguing. Technical Disaster losing their last two regular season games may have cost them a few spots regarding seeding - or was it a masterclass in disguise where they wanted to play this specific team? @wrlster should lead this Technical Disaster team these playoffs with some silky-smooth moves on the wing. He knows how to put the puck in the net and will cause trouble for a good HC Vadelma team. Helping him is @Tecena who knows a thing or two about this game. Watch out HC Vadelma, this guy can play.
HC Vadelma has worked hard these past seasons, entering Lite after playing in Core for a few seasons with mixed results. Captain @Awesome_Zone_ did not have the best regular season and has some stepping up to do when it comes to this series and the playoffs. Can the rest of the team help him elevate his game to what we know he can do, and will the defense of HC Vadelma rely on a shaky end to the season of Technical Disaster?
Player to watch this series: @Tecena
Predictions:
@hifk_FANI: 4-1 Technical Disaster
Anonymous player: 4-0 HC Vadelma
Who do you think will win each series? Let us know in the comments!
Thank you to @hifk_FANI for contributing and covering half of the matchups covered in this article.
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