GCL 9: Playoffs Preview

SportsGamers,

The regular season of the 9^th iteration of the German Championship League is done. While the two DACH powerhouses ZSC Esports and Deadly Phantoms secured the top seeds for the postseason, we have seen a few new faces stepping up causing quite some surprises in the regular season. Now it is time to take a closer look at the upcoming Best-Of-7 Quarterfinal series in GCL 9!

ZSC Esports (1) vs. Deggendorfer SC Esports (8) (written by @OGjahajaha)

The back-to-back Champion from Switzerland will face a familiar opponent: DSC Esports. The two teams already met in the regular season with two spectacular goalfestivals (10:6 & 11:2 W for ZSC Esports). While the Swiss juggernauts grabbed the #1 overall seed with a perfect record (14-0-0), the Bavarian underdogs grabbed the last playoffspot with two important wins on their last matchday. While Deggendorf is well known for their quick counterattacks they need to find a way to stabilize their defense. 67 goals conceded in 14 games is the worst defense out of all 16 GCL teams. On the other hand ZSC Esports scored the most goals (104) and conceded the least goals (22) in the whole league. Kevin @Keuschemisch Berg (31G+50A), Sven @Original-SnuS Julmi (34G+29A), Max @Toneee9 Tonitz (6G+47A) and Chris @GERxVillain Ungeheuer (20G+26A) can all be found among the top 4 scorers of the league. For Deggendorfer SC Esports it will be a mammoth task to breakdown their offensive game.

Players to watch: Sven @Original-SnuS Julmi & Tobias @blechi12 Blechinger

Predicition: 4-0 ZSC Esports

Deadly Phantoms (2) vs. Düsseldorfer EG eSports (7)

Two of the most experienced teams in the DACH-Community will face each other in the quarterfinals of GCL9! While the Deadly Phantoms have seen quite a few changes to their roster, melting into one team with former ECL Lite Quarterfinalist “Hyperion”, DEG eSports are still led by their two veterans Steffen @Seibertus94(Leuch-T) Leuchtenberger and Daniel @DangerBrooklyn Göpfert. While the Phantoms grabbed rank 1 in group 2 of GCL 9 with a record of 10-1-3, Düsseldorf managed to secure rank 4 in the same group on the last matchday. The matchup in the regular season of these two teams could not have been any more contrary. A 7:0 win for the Phantoms in game 1 faces a 6:5 OT win for DEG eSports in game 2. The key factor for this series will be consistency. The Deadly Phantoms used 12 different players during the regular season while their opponent relied on the same lineup most of the times. Especially DEG topscorer Alexander @Fire_019 Eder (16G+14A) can hurt the German juggernaut on counterattacks. If the Phantoms find their lineup, consistency and rhythm for the playoffs they should advance to the semifinals.

Players to watch: Niklas @xXPsykoSkillsXx Schmitz & Alexander @Fire_019 Eder

Prediction: 4-1 Deadly Phantoms

Predators (3) vs. Red Bull Munich eSports (6)

Surely on of the biggest surprises in the 9^th campaign of GCL hockey are the Predators! @LTorro managed to create a very balanced team of experienced and very talented young players. Playing all 14 games in the same lineup shows the consistency and is surely one of the reasons for their recent success. Especially Slovakian loanplayer Roland @jasomnajlepsi Nemec (12G+19A) is an exciting player to watch who adds the needed scoring touch to their offensive game. Their regular season record of 10-3-1 on rank 2 of group 2 underline their solid performances. But will they be able to maintain their game in the post season? Red Bull Munich eSports had a tough start to the season but came back on track thanks to a 5 game winning streak in the middle of the season, giving them that decisive push to the playoffs. The experienced Lauri @Lamsa Lamsa added that needed scoring ability. The Finnish loanplayer is always able to create danger around the opponents net and makes his teammates better. While Predators were more consistent during the season, the Red Bulls dropped many points in tight matchups. This can be the x-factor in a long and tight quarterfinalseries.

Players to watch: Florian @Flo_goes_grazy(flgr93) Griechbaum & Roland @jasomnajlepsi Nemec

Prediction: 4-3 Predators

SCB eSports (4) vs. Team NGU (5)

Another very tight and exciting series in the quarterfinals of GCL9! The Swiss Esports Squad from Bern managed to secure a strong rank 2 in group 1 right behind their countrymen of ZSC Esports. Winning 7 out of their last 8 games it seems like SCB Esports have found their scoring touch right in time! The ECL Pro Qualifier participant of Team NGU once again added loanplayers Jani @Jaks_10 Sallila and Czech ECL Lite Champion Patrik @Winci Wenzel to their squad. Team NGU recovered from a four game losing streak and finished with a record of 9-4-1, winning even one more game than their quarterfinal opponent from Switzerland! While the Esports team of the “Schlittschuh Club Bern” used 11 players during the regular season, we could find mainly the same lineup for Team NGU on the other side. Akin @DaMan(Akin_Penta) Isik (9G+9A) and Bryan @CuteTerminator7 Bolliger switched roles which seemed to have worked quite well towards the end of the season in combination with one of their two licenseplayers on the other wing! Despite their lower seed but due to their experience on higher level Team NGU should be able to win this series and advance to the top 4 in GCL 9!