Summer Cup 3 - Semifinals

Hey NHLGamers,

The Quarter Finals treated us to some good hockey and in case you missed the games, you can see three of the four matchups by following the links here and here. As this was the Quarter Final round, I'm not sure if we can talk about big upsets at this stage, with so many talented teams remaining, but the home teams came on top in all series but one. NG Pena ja Setelit (#8) managed to beat NG Blue Circle (#3) in three games and statistically, that was the only upset of the round.

As we move forward into the Semifinals, the matchups look as follows:
(1.) NG KELAMIEHET vs NG Pena ja Setelit (8.)  
 

In the first pair we have NG KELAMIEHET and NG Pena ja Setelit, both teams that have got into the Semifinals by winning their three first rounds 2-1, 2-0 and 2-1. Can @FlyerKungen (13+12 in Playoffs) and @Filariou (8+15 in Playoffs)  keep up their top-scoring performance, or will @MarkunPaukku (Mpaukku_, 12+8 in Playoffs) and @Penatski (6+13 in Playoffs) step up and challenge them for the scoring leader title? While @Caazual (AcED719) for NG Pena ja Setelit and @JanneK. (Januri98) for NG KELAMIEHET have equal stats when it comes to wins and losses, the latter has more impressive stats in Save% (73.77 vs 81.25), GAA (2.00 vs 1.50) and shutouts (0 vs 3). Whether or not the previous stats will matter - or indicate any strength relationships - tonight when the puck drops remains to be found out. This pair will decide which one goes to the finals tonight at 21:00 CEST on our Twitch channel, so don't miss the action!

The semifinals are played in a best-of-three series and the games will be covered as follows:

Game 1: Wednesday 18th of July 2018 21:00 CEST | LIVE STREAM (no commentary)
Game 2: Wednesday 18th of July 2018 21:30 CEST | LIVE STREAM (no commentary)
Game 3: Wednesday 18th of July 2018 22:00 CEST (If necessary) | LIVE STREAM (no commentary)

 (2.) NG HANAA vs NG Alahärmän Pullistus (5.) 

In the other pair we have two teams who swept their last round 2-0 and got to the semifinals perhaps with a little less sweating than the teams in the other pair. @Vilupoika won both the goal and point scoring categories for the regular season with an astonishing 37+25 in 18 games and his center @SadaPoika didn't finish too far off at 13+34. Vilupoika will definitely be the most dangerous one to get the puck across the line, so if NG Alahärmän Pullistus can keep him under wraps, that could be a key to victory. On the opposing side, @Hermurderer and @Naikou88 have really been lighting the lamp during the playoffs, while @kibenibe has been the dishmaster.  Both sides have a strong defence and we could be seeing this being a battle between the goalies. In the NG Alahärmän Pullistus end of the ice, @vokial2 (SolidElli) has been putting up the highest save% of the playoffs at 86.58, 1.57 GAA and 2 shutouts. In the other crease we have @Viltzup with 78.37% and 1.60 GAA. Both stats are good and the difference in faced shots is huge in the advantage of SolidElli, 71-29. Could a low number of shots be an advantage for NG Hanaa? SolidElli has 6 ECL seasons under his belt, while as a goalie, Viltzup just finished his second ECL season. All of these are just numbers and Thursday night will show us which team comes out more prepared!

 

The semifinals are played in a best-of-three series and the games will be covered as follows:

Game 1: Thursday 19th of July 2018 20:00 CEST | LIVE STREAM (commentary by @Kenu & @Janikka)
Game 2: Thursday 19th of July 2018 20:30 CEST | LIVE STREAM (commentary by @Kenu & @Janikka)
Game 3: Thursday 19th of July 2018 21:00 CEST (If necessary) | LIVE STREAM (commentary by @Kenu & @Janikka)

As a reminder, here is the schedule for the rest of the Summer Cup 3 playoffs:

• Semifinals: 16.7.-19.7.
• Finals: 22.7. 

We wish all participating teams and players good luck.