ECL '24: Spring - Pro Quarterfinals Preview - ECL

In this article, we’ll be digging deep into all of the four matchups that ECL Pro has left to offer. As usual, we will step on some toes and our predictions will cause some much-needed controversy. Which teams will advance to the semifinals? Read down below and make up your mind!

SERIES 1:

Falun Coal Miners (1) vs Golden Sticks (12)

David vs Goliath, Rocky vs Drago, and all the stories we’ve heard of underdogs rising against the favorites. Will this be the upset of the season? Golden Sticks sure hope so, but Falun is no easy team to take down, especially in a best-of-7 series that will surely be a good one to watch.

Falun surely had an easier way to the top 8 than their opponents did, beating out Vizio in a 4-0 sweep, but a few of those wins came in tight games so it wasn’t quite as easy as it may appear - this is after all the Pro playoffs. With 14 goals scored in 4 games for Falun, we know their offense is there, everybody knows they have the ability to take the edge in tight games on both ends of the ice. The difference in this series has to be which team can score first, and which team can defend their lead better. @STRANDMANNEN11 kept his scoring touch from the regular season, and put up 11 points (3+8) in 4 games vs Vizio, with his center buddy @smay96 not far behind. The experience between the pipes for both teams will be a good matchup in this series, with both @eliekamel87 and @jubex0r both having a great postseason so far.

A tight series for Golden Sticks in round 1 of these playoffs surely boosts their confidence heading into the quarterfinals; they were down 3-2 in their series and managed to win both games 6 and 7. And with 7 games played, comes more points: newly acquired @LucePro is leading the team in points (5+8) in the postseason so far. He showed everyone that even in 6s he belongs in the playoffs. He can surely take his game to another level, but he’ll need the help of his teammates. @HopeaKypara99 and LucePro can make for an interesting duo on offense, but will it be enough versus the all-so-experienced defense of Falun? Tune in to find out!

We caught up with the captains @LucePro of Golden Sticks and @l-Furyan-l of Falun Coal Miners and here's what they had to say:

What are your opponent's biggest weaknesses?

LucePro: "Falun haven’t played in a while, a week's break or so since their last game could show in the beginning, and their consistency is also a weakness we are looking to exploit."

l-Furyan-l: "I don’t know if Golden Sticks really have any weaknesses per se. However, I would like to add that they do have an in-form player we absolutely need to stop; LucePro, if we want to have a chance to win we need to take him down."

And how are you going to win this series?

LucePro: "We’re creative in the offensive zone, and can create a lot of good chances, we defend well as a team and that is how we’re going to win this series."

l-Furyan-l: "If we want to advance to the semifinals this season, we need to play our own game, dare to be ourselves, and most importantly, have fun."

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI Falun 4-1 Falun Coal Miners

@ripKeisari: Falun 4-1 Falun Coal Miners

@Pensasmies: Falun 4-2 Falun Coal Miners

A player who shouldn’t be overlooked: @jubex0r

Watch the series live: Falun Coal Miners twitch.tv/CoalMinersTV, Golden Sticks twitch.tv/goldensticksnhl

SERIES 2:

(2) TIKI TALKvs Mustaa Kultaa (10)

This series has the potential to be an interesting one, both on and off the ice. Both teams play entertaining hockey and seem to be quite active on social media. Hopefully, both teams can keep it going as this matchup sure will be an entertaining one.

Mustaa Kultaa coming off their ECL '23: Spring Championship season in Lite were eliminated in the Pro Quarterfinals last season by Renascor, who we saw in ECL Elite in ECL '24: Spring. This season Mustaa Kultaa are back at it again with a successful playoff run and seeing them back in the quarterfinals this year has come to nobody's surprise. In the first round, they took down a skilled team in Otukset 4-1 and are now facing a similar opponent in TIKI TALK. it will be a test for them to see if they can make it one step further. If they want to advance to the semifinals and secure that lock for Elite qualification, either @Allupekkaz or @jaageri_ will need to stand out in a big way and carry the mantle. Will their trust in sensational rookie @LatveX in goal pay off? So far so good, as he boasts an insane 93,83 sv%, which - if he can keep it up - is certainly an ingredient for winning and potential for a record-breaking stat.

TIKI TALK who undoubtedly has stuck it to those who didn't believe in them this season, by taking down a good team in Herlev Eagles, with an incredible comeback from being down 3-1 and winning the series in game 7. As per usual a goal-hungry @itspardytime leading the team in points (8+11), but now having a great player alongside him who can put up points - can @NuariJamal be the guy he needs to get back to the Elite division?

We caught up with the Mustaa Kultaa captain @jaageri_ for some comments about the series. Tiki Talk were unfortunately unavailable for comment.

What are your opponent's biggest weaknesses?

Jaageri: "The opponent's biggest weakness is definitely defense."

And how are you going to win this series?

Jaageri: "We will win this series by defending the way we did in the first round. Even though TIKI TALK have a different playbook and a lot of skill, they also have a guy who isn’t afraid to “kärkkyä” (=to cherry pick), so we need to keep their breakaways to a minimum. Our strength lies in counter-attacks and we need to exploit that."

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI: Mustaa Kultaa 4-2

@ripKeisari: Mustaa Kultaa 4-3

@Pensasmies: Mustaa Kultaa 4-1

A player who shouldn’t be overlooked: @itspardytime

Watch the series live: TIKI TALK twitch.tv/nuarijamal-_-, Mustaa Kultaa twitch.tv/allupekkaz

SERIES 3:

Deadly Phantoms (3) vs Almost Famous (8)

Both teams possess the talent, the quality, and the determination to advance from this series, but what sets these two teams apart? We can’t overlook the fact that both teams can score, and I bet both teams will prepare accordingly. One team has more experience whilst the other possesses that eagerness to compete again at this level.

Deadly Phantoms have that rare ability to beat almost anybody, their style of play allows them to be able to compete with any team in this scene, it comes with its perks but also with its implications in offense. With a defense like theirs comes some outstanding goaltending from @RPH_31, a GAA of 1.00 & 92,42% save percentage, putting him in 2nd place in both categories so far in the playoffs. Forwards will need to step up in the next series if they want to advance - they can’t rely on their defenseman @xXPsykoSkillsXx to carry them for too long.

After rebranding to the name Almost Famous, the team carried itself well in the regular season, and now with a solid first-round win in six games, they have a much harder task at hand in taking down a much more defense-heavy opponent. With the teams splitting the points in the regular season, this series could go either way. The question for this series will be whether Almost Famous can find a way through the German defense and score enough goals. Will the central server play a big part? Can @xrikardo55 find his groove? We’ll find out soon enough.

We caught up with the Almost Famous captain @Ikavalko for some comments about the series.

What are your opponent's biggest weaknesses?

Ikavalko: "Wouldn’t say they have a specific weakness in their team, they don’t have too much individual talent and their gameplay goes through the blueline so we need to take advantage of that."

And how are you going to win this series?

Ikavalko: "By taking away their tips and rebounds."

Deadly Phantoms were unfortunately unavailable for comment.

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI: Deadly Phantoms 4-2

@ripKeisari: Deadly Phantoms 4-3

@Pensasmies: Deadly Phantoms 4-3

A player who shouldn’t be overlooked: @Jalkkin-

Watch the series live: Deadly Phantoms twitch.tv/ProfaneKiss

SERIES 4:

POGGERS (4) POGGERSvs RYHTIC(7) RYHTIC

Both teams have a roster full of players with an extremely high knowledge of how the game mechanics work and talented goalies. Both rely on playing together as a team, and creating plays together which is why this series has the potential to be the best to watch for new players and teams, who want to rise in the ECL ladder.

POGGERS have been around for a while and are now looking to get back to where they came from: ECL Elite. On their good days they can fight for a playoff spot in the highest division, but their ability to stay consistent is why they are currently playing in Pro. If @JaKurrii can get his team to play the way they need to, they’ll advance with the help of @Ghettomasi who led the team in the regular season, and now needs to get back to his regular season form.

RYHTIC who took down a great team in Södertälje in the first round has a round 2 monkey on their back they really need to shake off. They are known for having a great season and making the playoffs, but not quite being able to finish the job in the end. The team is once again being led by veteran @yrjoo, and focuses on keeping games close and not giving their opponent an inch in the offensive zone. If they can stick to their game plan and keep POGGERS off the board, they might just make it to the semifinals. With @Naikou88 back in the team, and @JussinSisko being a playoff performer, this might just be the year for RYHTIC.

We caught up with the captains of RYHTIC @yrjoo for some comments about the series.

What are your opponent's biggest weaknesses?

Yrjoo: "Has to be their inconsistency."

And how are you going to win this series?

Yrjoo: "By continuing where we left off versus SSK."

POGGERS were unfortunately unavailable for comment.

Predictions:

@hifk_FANI: RYHTIC 4-3 RYHTIC

@ripKeisari RYHTIC 4-1 RYHTIC

@Pensasmies POGGERS 4-1 POGGERS

A player who shouldn’t be overlooked: @MCH_98

Watch the series live: RYHTIC twitch.tv/yrjoo