ECL '26: Winter - Pro | Playoffs Round 1 Preview

The PLAYOFFS are back! The regular season has come to an end, and thus begins the best time of the year. In this article, we'll cover all the Pro matchups in a short review, we'll highlight some players, and get predictions from a few players in the ECL division framework. The 1st round has some interesting matchups, and we'll see an intense week of hard-fought battles. Some matchups are going to be closer than others, and some will have their playoff hopes cut short.

Puck Over Glass vs Rusty X

This matchup has the potential to be the upset of the season. Rusty made the playoffs by a thin margin. Now they face an opponent that has the division's leading goalscorer @Hydeee_24 who is continuing to impress, @Lotiseva has also been impressive, netting 44 goals in the regular season. If Rusty can silence these two, they'll stand a chance in the upcoming series. Last year, we saw an upset from the 8th-seeded Herlev Eagles taking down regular-season champs Dilac, which proves that once the playoffs start, anything is possible. For Rusty X, their star forwards need to step up, @Nester4343 can be a difference maker when it matters, but if he decides to have an offday, their playoffs might just be cut short.

Predictions:

Hifk_FANI: Puck Over Glass in 4

@1mmu9: Puck Over Glass in 5

@Bipes_bip0rus Puck Over Glass in 5

@MCH_98: Puck Over Glass in 4

 

Carpe Diem vs Aspyre

Carpe Diem surprised a lot of teams this season with their style of play. They managed to steal some important points this season to get that 2nd place in group 1. They now face Aspyre in the 1st round, who is eager to win their 1st playoff series ever. Aspyres struggled in the regular season; they couldn't string together wins to create some momentum, lost important points to lower-seeded teams, but stole points from higher-seeded teams, so it'll be interesting to see how this matchup plays out. @koleslaav_ & @Jondeezz will be the top guys for Aspyre to watch, whilst @priima-namu(FeikkiNambo) is a guy who can steal games for Aspyre, he needs to be on his game if Aspyre wants to advance to the next round. For Carpe Diem, the playmaking of @Bipes_bip0rus and the breakout passes of @Datsyykki13 will be what sets them apart from Aspyre.

Predictions:

Hifk_FANI: Plays for Aspyre

@1mmu9: Aspyre in 7

@Bipes_bip0rus: Plays for Carpe Diem

@MCH_98: Aspyre in 7
 

Greatest vs Deadly Phantoms

For a matchup in the playoffs, a team dependent on their defense and counters versus a team that scored the most goals in the regular season will be a great watch, the dynamic Greatest versus the resiliant Deadly Phantoms series will be a good watch for those who want to know more about the game and how to be better, this series will feature highly skilled players and a team that knows what it takes to win. In the case of Greatest, their offense is the key, if they score more than their opponent it doesn't matter how many goals they conceede, captain @Fin_S1su has had a tough start with a 79% save percentage and a tad over 3 conceeded goal per game, but he has the ability to steal games, and Greatest has the starpower to get it done offensively. Deadly Phantoms, on the other hand, are one of the best defensive teams in the Pro Division and will make it tough for Greatest to get their flow going. If the German side can frustrate their opponents early on in the series, they might just take the win home.

Predictions:

Hifk_FANI: Greatest in 6

@1mmu9: Greatest in 5

@Bipes_bip0rus: Greatest in 5

@MCH_98: Greatest in 6
 

MoDo Hockey vs xBots

Honest Finland vs Sweden matchup, both teams have what it takes to light up the scoreboard. In this series, the team with better defensive tendencies and consistency is key. MoDo, who boast the best penalty kill in the division at 94.12%, hopes to stay out of the box as much as possible, but knows that if needed, they can count on their PK guys, while xBots has an average power play at 22.22%, which is no reason for MoDo to try their luck. MoDo also has the advantage of being good offensively while also being responsible in their own zone, highly talented @Mathiasgamer_07 and @Sebastian Axelsson(axelzonee) put up 88 and 87 points, which puts them 2nd and 4th in the division for those categories. xBots on the other hand relies heavily on their team play, they have the same guys (almost) as the season prior when they got relegated from the Elite division, and now have their sights set on returning, @sopulii_ who has struggled in the faceoff dot at 48% needs to get his team together for the playoffs and play their best games of the season, this MoDo team is not going down easily.

Predictions:

Hifk_FANI: MoDo in 5

@1mmu9: xBots in 6

@Bipes_bip0rus: xBots in 7

@MCH_98: xBots in 5
 

Finnish Roosters vs Otukset

A number one seed from the group stage always comes with big expectations, and Finnish Roosters is no exception, against a great team in Otukset, who struggled in the regular season with consistency, will now have an uphill battle after playing in the Elite qualifiers ahead of the season. The Roosters who have played together for a long time have a clear system, they play to their strengths and have amazing chemistry within the team, and more experience from playing in big moments, now comes the time to put up or shut up, @imosi who led the team this season in points 87 (46+41) is their go-to guy when they need goals, but their league leading defense is what sets them apart, and goalie @Z0mbie Zyndr0me who is playing in his first season in net has been playing insanely well with a 84.49% save percentage. Otukset still have a dangerous team; their roster is filled with guys who have played together for a while now, and when they get their groove going, they can be a hard team to stop, but the question is, will they get it going early enough to take down the Group 2 winners? @juhkis96 will need to get out his bag of tricks and see if they still have what it takes.

Predictions:

Hifk_FANI: Otukset in 6

@1mmu9: Roosters in 6

@Bipes_bip0rus: Otukset in 6

@MCH_98: Otukset in 7

F0CUS vs SSK Prospects

This matchup on paper heavily favours F0CUS, with all major stat lines going in their favour. SSK will need a crucial step up in their power play if they want to give themselves a better chance at this series. They have the worst powerplay percentage in the whole league, with 4.17%, facing the second-best penalty kill in the league from FOCUS, with 93.75%, while also having the least amount of penalty minutes (32). SSK does still have some firepower with @Disctrasan- being their leading goal scorer during the regular season with 27 goals, averaging 0,9 goals per game. If he can step up and the rest of SSK can find another step, they could see themselves with a slimmer of hope. If SSK is looking to cause an upset, they would need to majorly step up their offensive game and hope that FOCUS can’t keep up their offensive scoring from the regular season, but highly unlikely. @MCH_98 who tied for the lead in points (53) with @LeiskaViis7 & @localhefe has been as steady as always, but now taking his offensive game to another level. Captain @jm98II left this washed reporter with no comments ahead of their series with the Swedes; ice in his veins will be crucial for F0CUS this post-season.

Predictions:

Hifk_FANI: F0CUS in 4

@1mmu9: F0CUS in 5

@Bipes_bip0rus: F0CUS in 4

@MCH_98: Plays for F0CUS

NOSTREETSPORTS vs POGGERS

NOSTREET came out flying this season, after a season away, they picked up right where they left off, into the playoffs against POGGERS, who didn't have the best regular season but still managed to get an ok seed. They have all the tools to win this series and advance to the quarterfinals. @Bot_hene who managed to get a solid roster this season has managed to up his own game, putting up 72 points (28+44) whilst rocking a supreme 54.5% the faceoff circle, the captain leads by example on both sides of the ice as POGGERS are a tough team to beat. POGGERS, who are still a force to be reckoned with this season, managed to put up a respectable amount of goals again this year, averaging 3.27 goals per game. It could be tough for NOSTREET, who isn't known for their great defence, so expect @JaKurrii to be his old self and dominate games. Expect high-scoring games and not a whole lot of defense.

Predictions:

Hifk_FANI: NOSTREET in 5

@1mmu9: Plays for NOSTREET

@Bipes_bip0rus: NOSTREET in 7

@MCH_98: NOSTREET in 7

vNexs ll vs Unique

Both teams followed the same trend this season, both have gotten better as the season has progressed, and an even series is a lock, but who wins will come down to pure nerves as both teams possess incredible skill and the needed talent to play the game the right way. vNexs surprised a lot of teams with their skill level this season, they have a roster of both young talent and veteran experience and youngster @Maaacki(maxboee) has been able to take his game to another level this season, hitting the 30 goal mark along with 38 assists to lead the team, if he can find another gear in the playoffs it's goodbye Unique. But Unique has their own set of talent, so don't count them out, with a veteran presence like @LE1PAKONE (nordzman) on defense in the Pro division, the longtime Elite defender must have a trick up his sleeves in these playoffs, and with @Jakeexh exploding this season 84 points (43+41), there isn't a whole lot for them to worry about, a rock hard powerplay for Unique at 35% in the regular season could be theri bread and butter, if vNexs finds themself often in the box this series might just not see past 4 games.

Predictions:

Hifk_FANI: vNexs in 5

@1mmu9: Unique in 6

@Bipes_bip0rus: Unique in 6

@MCH_98: Unique in 6