SCL 6v6 Playoffs: Quarterfinals Preview

NHLGamers,

It's time for the quarterfinals of the SCL 6v6 league and with that we're now down to only eight teams left. We've got some very interesting matchups incoming, including some rivalries from the group stage, which is always nice. The quarterfinals of the SCL are to be played between Today, 12th of September and Wednesday, 15th of September. The quarterfinals will be played in a best-of-seven format.

Lainaa

The SCL 6v6 Playoff Schedule:

• Play-in Round: 31.8.-3.9
• Round 1: 5.-9.9
• Quarterfinals: 12.-15.9
• Semifinals: 19.-22.9
• Finals 25.9

Here are your Quarterfinal matchups:

(1)   Granit Gaming vs IK Oskarshamn  (10)

A true case of David vs Goliath on display. Despite having a positive development curve and being able to overcome Södertälje SK in a tight battle in the first round, IK Oskarshamn is in over their head in this one. The reigning champions have plowed through opposition without the slightest sign of weakness throughout the league so far, and are not expected to stop any time soon. To put this matchup into perspective - IK Oskarshamn overcame SSK in a very tight seven game series, whereas Granit managed to beat that same team in the group stage with ease by 4-1 and 6-0. Although an upset would shake the scene to the core, this is not the matchup where that will happen. 

Prediction: 4-0, Granit advance

(2)  Farjestad BK vs Ice MachineZ  (9)

We could be in for an interesting one right here. Farjestad BK is the established runner-up, but Ice MachineZ are surely up for the challenge. Both teams consist of experienced players in slightly new found constellations. The biggest advantage in advance can be found in net, where FBK have @McSavid, who we all know as one of the greatest Swedish netminders around. On the other side, we've got @Provokacija for the Ice MachineZ, who hasn't proven his level yet against high level clubs on a regular basis - now is his chance. This matchup will most likely boil down to which team finds the better flow on ice and which goaltender will manage to elevate their level of play better. A minor advantage for Farjestad BK.

Prediction: 4-1, Färjestad advance

(3)  Djurgarden Hockey vs Björklöven Esport  (6)

Seed #1 and #2 from group 1 clash again. In the group stage, these teams played two low-scoring battles, which both ended in Djurgården wins and Björklöven were left with only one point for an OT loss. The history between these two teams call for a very tough fight that could extend to the full seven games, and scoring should be hard. Both teams are extremely strong defensive units that have the ability to explode on offense when given the chance, and both have a secret weapon on that defensive LD spot - @Jungledonk for Djurgården and @Supremski for Björklöven. Keep an eye on these two!

Prediction: 4-2, Djurgården advance

(4)  HV71 vs AiKnown  (5) 

These two also met already in the group stage - HV71 finishing #1 and AiKnown finishing #2 in group 3. Back then, points were shared. Statistically, the teams are very similar and play with a defense first mindset, but it could be argued that HV71 is a slightly better assembled machine due to their experience together at the forefront. That is not to say that AiKnown would be any lesser of a team and they definitely stand the chance to cause trouble in this matchup for their opponents, especially with the notion in mind that HV71 heart-and-soul @Demski13 will be absent for his team in this matchup. That means a small shuffle for HV71, where @Rubituss takes the center spot and @Joppe_ enters the lineup - having done so well with 10 points in their first matchup against Illumination. This is a tight matchup that is very tough to predict, you'll have to see it first hand!

Prediction: 2-4, AiKnown advance

Tune in to www.Twitch.tv/NHLGamer tonight at 20:45 CEST to get the quarterfinals started with some tough clashes between HV71 and AiKnown! Adam @esdor Ericson and Casper @ICappeI Lundgren will be in the booth for all the action!