Jiihooo86

Upcoming Playoff Matchups – Towards Round 3 The first round of the Playoffs has concluded, and the advancing teams are now decided. Surprises, close matches, and some less close ones, outstanding individual performances, and excellent team play were all seen in the first round. Now the stakes get higher as the prize is a spot among the top 8 and a step closer to the championship. Three out of four group leaders made it through to the second round, and a few smaller surprises have mixed up the order for this round, so now we’ll watch how the underdogs heading into the series — Mieskissat, Beer Bears, Nordic Knights, and Bare Knuckles Hockey — handle a tougher level of opposition. 1. HC Purijat – Mieskissat Introduction: HC Purijat’s primary strength in this series will be their rock-solid defense. Having shown excellent defensive play in the regular season and first round, this team carries the pressure of being the favorite expected to deliver, while Mieskissat enters with a “nothing to lose” mentality. If Mieskissat wants to put at least some pressure on their opponent, they must significantly improve their defense and goaltending, as well as reach the next level in their fighting spirit and discipline. Decisive factors: Balance between five-player offense and defense : This is a clear indicator how Mieskissat would have even a thin chance. You have to block those attacks! Key players’ performance: How does @Japemode, @nuariatte and @majavanaama50 perform for their team is going to be the key factor for this series Special teams (power play and penalty kill) Players to watch: @Japemode (G) : Regular season stats: 87.30% save percentage – 1.41 GAA – 4 shutouts @nuariatte (LW) : Regular season stats: 24GP – 42G + 25A – 13 game-winning goals @majavanaama50 (LW) : Regular season stats: 23GP – 19G + 26A – 123 interceptions Match prediction (Jiihooo86): HC Purijat 4 – 1 Mieskissat 2. Armeijan Kuri – Beer Bears Introduction: True to its name, Armeijan Kuri embodies a disciplined attacking mentality. The team, averaging 4.21 goals per game in the regular season, surely trusts in their offensive efficiency to topple their upcoming opponent. Beer Bears, who were one of the surprises in the first round by defeating Viitapohjan Vikings in a seven-game series, come in as clear underdogs. This team won’t lack determination and is ready to take down one of the preseason favorites in the new playoff series. But does the team have enough skill, depth, and discipline against the systematicly playing Armeijan Kuri? The first two games will clearly show the direction the series is heading. Decisive factors: Power dynamics: Army Discipline vs. the “happy, drinking furballs” Goaltending: Who will start in goal for Armeijan Kuri? Can @J-PV86 (Pataruma) perform better in Beer Bears’ goal than in the first round and stop shots at a rate higher than 77% and 4 GAA? Special teams: Armeijan Kuri took 11 penalties in 5 games during the first round, so Beer Bears must capitalize on those chances. However, if their power play stays at 10% like in the regular season, it won’t help much. Players to watch: @MutainenMalik (LW) : Regular season stats: 24GP – 22G + 41A – 23.9 shooting % @kasuri1 (G) : Regular season stats: 86.11% save percentage – 2.19 GAA – 3 shutouts @Jezzezz (LW) : Regular season stats: 23GP – 19G + 26A – 123 interceptions Match prediction (Jiihooo86): Armeijan Kuri 4 – 0 Beer Bears 3. Dynamo HC – Nordic Knights Introduction: Battle of the countries! This series features players from many different nations. Switzerland, USA, Sweden, Great Britain... These are split so that Dynamo HC’s roster includes the mentioned countries, while Nordic Knights consists solely of Swedish players. Dynamo HC enters as the clear favorite, but Nordic Knights proved to be a worthy opponent by defeating Sopranos in the first round, even though Sopranos had more experienced and higher-ranked players. Definitely one of the most interesting second-round series! Decisive factors: Goaltending: Dynamo HC’s goalie @Calxm41 has shown excellent performance, stopping 91.67% of shots and averaging only 1.4 goals against — the second lowest in the playoffs. On the other side, @Melker Tongring (Tfue4173) may start for Nordic Knights, who played with a decent 82% save percentage and allowed 2.5 goals per game in the first round. Game speed: Nordic Knights’ counterattacks in the Sopranos series were fast and the puck moved quickly into the offensive zone, creating chances. This could be a big factor here as well, and if the Knights can utilize it well, an upset is possible. Which situation suits the teams better? Does the favorite’s role put more pressure on Dynamo HC or give them an advantage? Does the underdog role free Nordic Knights’ game and boost their confidence? Or will Dynamo HC sweep through, leaving the Northern Knights in the dust? Players to watch: @Calxm41 (G) : Regular season stats: 86.44% save percentage – 2 GAA – 2 shutouts @Dan Dcon2silly (LW) : Regular season stats: 20GP – 34G + 36A – 7 game-winning goals @Elis is real (RW) : Regular season stats: 22GP – 35G + 15A – 33% shooting percentage (106 shots on goal) Match prediction (Jiihooo86): Dynamo HC 3 – 4 Nordic Knights 4. Conexion – Bare Knuckles Hockey Introduction: Conexion showed exemplary defensive play in the regular season, finishing second in their group with the same points as the group winner, HC Purijat. They allowed only 1.58 goals per game, an impressive result over 24 games. However, in the first round of the playoffs, Conexion’s defense faltered somewhat, and their results were no longer as good — they conceded 14 goals in 5 games, statistically much worse than in the regular season. Bare Knuckles Hockey showed fighting spirit in the first round by beating a higher-ranked opponent in six games, scoring 22 goals. Can Bare Knuckles surprise and maintain scoring efficiency while stopping Conexion’s usually solid attacking play? Decisive factors: Efficiency of the top players: Conexion’s @Jaks_10 (Jaksii_) and @Sweden2233 (SwedenFtW99), and Bare Knuckles’@taikatomi and @GoDe45! Importance of the first two games! If Conexion takes a big win in the first game, what effect does that have on Bare Knuckles’ mentality? And what if Bare Knuckles wins the first and possibly the second game? The series’ fate could be decided in these first two games! Breaking through the opponent’s defense: What are the ways Bare Knuckles can penetrate Conexion’s rock-solid defense to create scoring chances? Teams that scored well in the regular season are now being tested, and defensive discipline is put to the test! Watch these players: @Joe NHL Gremlingawe (G) : Regular season stats: 81.37% - 1.58 GAA - 8 SO @Jaks_10 Jaksii_ (RW) : Regular season stats: 22GP - 20G + 35A - TwP: 128:06 min @taikatomi (LW) : Regular season stats: 20GP - 27G + 22A - 8 GWG Match prediction (Jiihooo86): Conexion 4 - 3 Bare Knuckles Hockey 5. Skyfall – Capetown Kings Introduction: Skyfall relies again on incredibly strong offensive play. The team with the second most goals in the regular season aims to defeat CapeTown Kings by relying on their top scorers @Koutsi (Koutsinaattori) and @stu_rulez. How will CapeTown respond, and in what way? The primary issue is fixing the defense. They allowed over 3 goals per game in the regular season, a major vulnerability considering Skyfall’s star players. Can CapeTown’s goalie @Randomjanne start in goal by the team’s decision and continue the good form seen in the last games of the first round, or will @jorkka82 be placed in goal despite Randomjanne’s better stats? Decisive factors: Unpredictability of CapeTown Kings’ defense and goaltending: Now is the time for goalies to shine for CapeTown. Skyfall’s offense has been crushing all season, so the last line of defense must be strong here. Can the defensive unit adapt to the strong offense and calmly build counterattacks, or will we see a breakdown and the kings’ downfall? Power play efficiency: Penalties against Skyfall must be minimized! The team’s power play percentage is an impressive 35.14% in the regular season, so this must be feared. Adaptation: How does the tougher opponent affect CapeTown’s play, and how well can they adapt? Watch these players: @Jonza1990 (Hatsigaboom) (C) : Regular season stats: 16GP - 11G + 19A - 81 INT @Mikse94 (C) : Regular season stats: 18GP - 18G + 37A - 126 INT @stu_rulez (RW) : Regular season stats: 22GP - 35G + 43A - 123 INT Match prediction (Jiihooo86): Skyfall 4 - 1 CapeTown Kings 6. Nordic Nosebleed – Kelagoldcard HC Introduction: Nordic Nosebleed, second in their group, face Kelagoldcard HC, seeded 4th in their own group. The teams’ strengths differ completely: Kelagoldcard relies on trusted scoring, while Nordic Nosebleed play a balanced game with good offense. I predict Nordic Nosebleed to take this series based entirely on their clearly better team play than Kelagoldcard. Of course, the possibility of an upset remains—if Kelagoldcard can disrupt Nordic Nosebleed’s team play with their own offense, there is a chance to beat them, even if small. Decisive factors: Symbiosis of scoring and defense Emergence of defensemen! This will definitely be crucial for Kelagoldcard. Can the defenders create dangerous shots from the blue line, distribute the puck, and be ready fast enough defensively so Nosebleed can’t launch quick counters? The main thing for the Defensemen is that their attacks last longer in the Nosebleed zone Counterattack play: Could this be one weapon for Kelagoldcard? Do the players have the courage for quick breakouts and slight guessing attacks to break Nordic Nosebleed’s team defense? Watch these players: @Jean-Claes (G) : Regular season stats: 81.38% - 2.56 GAA - 4 BA saves out of 7 @1mmu9 (LW/C) : Regular season stats: 22GP - 26G + 30A - TwP: 128:06 min @Jcarlton89 (C) : Regular season stats: 24GP - 36G + 30A - 37.9 S% (95 SOG) Match prediction (Jiihooo86): Nordic Nosebleed 4 - 2 Kelagoldcard HC 7. VBO Stars – HC Vilttimiehet Introduction: HC Vilttimiehet, who have struggled with team play in offense, get the toughest possible opponent for the second round in their own oppinion. VBO Stars scored nearly 4 goals per game in the regular season and are clear favorites going into this series. Vilttimiehet will again rely on good defense and keeping matches tight—this has been their style all season. The team’s defensive ability has been respectable throughout the season, with a veteran goalie as the last line of defense who has kept his joints in shape so the puck still sticks to the glove. But will the good form in goal (91.25% save percentage in the first round, with the lowest goals-against average in playoffs at 1.17 GAA) continue against this opponent’s offensive onslaught or will @Jiihooo86 finally become Swiss cheese? Decisive factors: Pressure tolerance: HC Vilttimiehet is an inexperienced team playing their first competitive ECL season. Veterans @Funkygames91 and @Jiihooo86 bear responsibility for preparing the team for the coming challenge. Will nerves break or can Vilttimiehet pull off an upset? VBO Stars’ offensive firepower: Can VBO Stars make Vilttimiehet’s defense struggle and generate a respectable number of shots on goal? Is time spent in the offensive zone the key factor in this series? Importance of defense: Neither team can afford poor defense in this series. Tight team play, good defense, and securing the series spot with no unnecessary risks. Watch these players: @Jiihooo86 (G) : Regular season stats: 84.15% - 2.17 GAA - 6 BA saves out of 7 @fisu123 The_Finisher90 (RW) : Regular season stats: 24GP - 24G + 23A - 159 Hits @Nilsson04_ (RW) : Regular season stats: 18GP - 33G + 22A - 8 GWG @priima-namu FeikkiNambo (C) : Regular season stats: 22GP - 20G + 29A - 111 Hits Match prediction (eSwahn): VBO Stars 4 - 3 HC Vilttimiehet 8. Fallen Rangers – Prowlers Introduction: Fallen Rangers was the most dangerous scoring team in the entire CORE division during the regular season. 125 goals in 24 games show a tremendous offensive threat, and Prowlers will have to be cautious against this firepower. On the other hand, Fallen Rangers’ defense was relatively poor as they allowed almost 3.5 goals per game. This series promises a goal fest, but which team will advance? Decisive factors: Momentum – who gets early success? Adapting playing style? Will either team change their style to focus more on defense? How does this affect the opponent? Pressure tolerance? How will the losing team turn things around? How important are the results of the first two games for mentality? Will frustrations arise? Watch these players: @Sebko99 (LW) : Regular season stats: 24GP - 43G + 38A - 261 Shots! @Kiso69 (C) : Regular season stats: 24GP - 29G + 44A - 41 BS @RHannu(LW) : Regular season stats: 22GP - 25G + 29A - 11 GWG Match prediction (Jiihooo86): Fallen Rangers 2 - 4 Prowlers

The first round of the ECL' 25: Spring - Core Playoffs has now been completed, and as in every season, there were surprises in this round. Going into the first round, the clear favorites were the teams that won their own regular season groups: HC Purijat, Armeijan Kuri, Harhapassi, and Dynamo HC. Of these, the only one who managed to get a sweep was Purijat. When it comes to surprises, third-placed Harhapassi struggled when they faced a team called Mieskissat. Mieskissat, which barely made it to the playoffs in their own group as the last qualifier, did not let the preconceptions affect their performance, but focused on bringing their best to the series despite being clear underdogs, and they managed to shock the Harhapassi team. Some other surprising results were seen, for example, in the series Sopranos vs. Nordic Knights, where Sopranos were also expected to advance directly, but the opposite happened. Let's go through some of the first round results and successful players. HC Purijat - TeNo (4 - 0) Purijat was a clear favorite going into this series, and the first-placed team in the entire regular season did not disappoint. The first two games ended with a goal difference of 10-3, as the team secured clear wins on the first match day with results 5-2 and 5-1, and on the second match da,y the advancement was secured with results 5-1 and 7-3. Successful players: @nuariatte 10+5 @Tuhoaja542 9+3 @Japemode 86.79% 1.75 GAA Armeijan Kuri - Zamboni Zorros (4 - 1) Armeijan Kuri showed excellent team play in the regular season, scoring just over 4 goals per game and conceding only 2.17 goals per game. The same continued in the first round of the playoffs. 25 goals scored and only 10 conceded indicated a huge difference in team play between the teams, and Zamboni Zorros simply could not match this. An easy 4-1 series win and Armeija marches on to the second round. Successful players: @hefezuk85 6+12 @MutainenMalik 10+7 @WIRTAAZKIN47 6+10 @kasuri1 88.1% 2 GAA Harhapassi - Mieskissat (2 - 4) As mentioned earlier, the favorite to advance from this series was Harhapassi. The team won their group while Mieskissat barely made it to the playoffs, yet they were able to give full resistance. The series surprisingly started with two straight wins by the underdog, though the games were close (5-3, 2-4). Harhapassi managed to open their win count only in the third game by beating Mieskissat in overtime 4-3. Mieskissat then immediately returned to the winning track with a high-scoring game 6-3, and Harhapassi narrowly won the next one 1-0. In the last encounter, many goals were scored as Mieskissat secured the upset with a 7-5 win. Successful players: @majavanaama50 10+7 @karhuperuna 5+10 @Muro (Murotkulhoss) 6+8 @Timo Silakka (SilakanTimo) 8+5 Dynamo HC - Siniviiva Snipers (4 - 1) Dynamo HC, placed fourth in the regular season, faced Siniviiva Snipers. Contrary to expectations, the games were surprisingly close. Three games ended 2-1 and two ended 3-1, with Dynamo HC winning the series 4-1. This series was entirely a goaltender battle, with keepers keeping the games tight until the end. For this reason, both goalies had to be included among the successful players. Successful players: @grontti88 86.64% 2 GAA @Calxm41 91.67% 1.4 GAA @Harten7 4+4 Conexion - Backcheck Boys (4 - 1) Conexion, which finished second in their group with the same points as the group winner, faced the worst-ranked seventh team. Conexion advanced convincingly to a 3-0 series lead, until Backcheck Boys managed to turn Game 4 in their favor 6-4. This was a very rare result since Conexion had only conceded 1.58 goals per game in the regular season. Somewhat angered by this, Conexion scored 7 goals in the final match and advanced to the second round. Successful players: @Jaks_10 (Jaksii_) 8+10 @Sweden2233 (SwedenFtW99) 8+9 @Jon LoL (itsWalsy) 7+5 Skyfall - HC Korobka (4 - 2) Skyfall, which was very strong in the regular season, scoring the second most goals of all teams, had to fight until the sixth game against HC Korobka. The key factors for Skyfall’s series win were Mikse94 and stu_rulez. In 6 games, these gentlemen scored a total of 20 goals and 25 assists against Korobka, sealing Skyfall's advancement. Successful players: @Mikse94 12+11 @stu_rulez 8+14 @lordkomar91 13+6 Nordic Nosebleed - Wildcats esports I (4 - 0) Looking at Nordic Nosebleed's roster, highlighting players like Eliekamel_ (who has previously played at Elite and Pro levels), Jean-Claes (a goalie with 85% save percentage at ECL 24 Winter and ECL 25 Winter Core levels), and cherrykicks (experienced at Lite level), the 4-0 series win was not surprising. Nordic Nosebleed, which has played nearly 700 ECL games, took an easy 4-0 series win and can confidently await their next opponent. A surprise was that the experienced Eliekamel did not play any games in the first round; only the team knows why. Successful players: @Lidaas79 8+7 @Sayatu14 5+5 @Jean-Claes 83.67% 2 GAA VBO Stars - Pulp Odyssey (4 - 2) The VBO and Odyssey series was predicted in favor of VBO mainly due to VBO’s scoring efficiency and defensive play. This was confirmed during the series where VBO conceded only three or more goals in two games, while their regular season GAA was 2.6. Odyssey managed to keep their GAA under the regular season average only once. VBO scored 20 goals in six games against Odyssey, which was too much for Pulp Odyssey. The series’ top scorer was nilsson04_, who scored half of VBO Stars’ goals. Successful players: @Nilsson04_ 10+4 @Valosaari92 9+4 @Liimp_92 84.47% 2.67 GAA Viitapohja Vikings - Beer Bears (3 - 4) Viitapohja Vikings met the already familiar Beer Bears, with both teams having played in the same group. The regular season game ended with points going to the Vikings, winning the first game clearly 6-3 and turning the second game in overtime 6-5. The playoff series provided entertainment all the way to the seventh game. Viitapohja started with two straight wins with a goal difference of 9-2, but Beer Bears responded with two wins of their own with a goal difference of 10-3. The series went to a decisive seventh game where defenses were forgotten and a scoring competition started, which Beer Bears won 9-6. Successful players: @Tolliikkii (Tolliikkii) 14+6 @Atte Mathlin (SpeedyMcQueen64) 9+9 @Liimiz 10+8 Fallen Rangers - Auramo Hockey Club (4 - 1) Fallen Rangers is a team made up of players from Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Despite limited ECL experience, the team showed strong performance already in the regular season, finishing third in their group and maintaining a very high goals scored average (GF/GP: 5.21), indicating a very strong offense, but with some defensive weaknesses as they conceded just over three goals per game. Fallen Rangers defeated Auramo Hockey Club 4-1 by being more efficient offensively. How their scoring stands out in the second round will be interesting to see. Successful Players: @Sebko99 4+4 @Kiso69 5+1 @X-STE3FANO-X 85.19% 3GAA Sopranos - Nordic Knights (2 - 4) Sopranos’ player roster compared to Nordic Knights was like night and day. With experience at all series levels, including Elite and Pro, combined with a very strong goalie, Sopranos were expected to dominate. Nordic Knights’ roster mainly consisted of players who have played at NEO, CORE, and LITE levels, so the expectations for this Swedish team were not high. Knights got into trouble early when Sopranos won the first two games to take a 2-0 lead. The third game (the turning point of the series) went into overtime, which Knights won in the final moments with less than 4 minutes left in the first overtime. The games continued tightly, but with four straight wins (2-3 OT, 3-2, 3-4, 3-2), Knights surprisingly advanced to the second round. Successful players: @Jjomppa (jjombbaa) 7+6 @Elis is real 5+7 @sk1y 4+6 Prowlers - Taifun Veterans (4 - 1) Prowlers is also a team with many PRO-level players, so the favorite status was unquestionable. The player quality was the biggest deciding factor here, as Prowlers sent Taifun Veterans home in five games with a goal difference of 29-15. mayX-swe’s excellent faceoff percentage (59.1) combined with the team’s cohesive offense secured an easy 4-1 series win. Successful players: @RHannu 9+15 @mayX-swe 8+14 @jokkz- 11+7 HC Lisko - Bare Knuckles Hockey (2 - 4) There was no clear favorite in this series, and this was reflected on the ice. Goals were scored by both teams, and the series could have gone either way. This time Bare Knuckles Hockey’s efficient duo Taikatomi and GoDe45 managed to turn the series in their favor. Especially prolific goal scorer Taikatomi scored 10 of the team’s 22 goals. Successful players: @taikatomi 10+7 @GoDe45 3+13 @Vertti91 5+7 HC Vilttimiehet - Nam3less (4 - 2) The Vilttimiehet - Nam3less series was the second goaltender battle of the first round, with few goals scored. Both teams played excellent defense, and with good goaltending as a lock, it was a very tight series. HC Vilttimiehet succeeded better in these close games and won the series 4-2. Successful players: @s-ultz-i 87.64% 1.83 GAA @Jiihooo86 91.25% 1.17 GAA @Deussi_ (DeusManiz) 6+2 @Jnmxxx (jimmiNOhands) 4+2 Kelagoldcard HC - Surte Sisu HC (4 - 0) The series was fairly balanced going in, and there was no clear favorite. However, Kelagoldcard HC showed themselves to be the team wanting the second-round spot more. Kelagoldcard HC advanced with results (2-4, 3-2, 2-3, 6-2). Successful players: @karjalainensamul 82.22% 2 GAA @Leevijopo01 6+5 @1mmu9 6+4 @SWE_KARLSSON16 4+3 Capetown Kings - Koppibuutti (4 - 1) My personal opinion was that this series would go to game 7. However, Capetown managed to turn a first-game loss into a four-game winning streak. The games were not clear except for the 4-1 win, as the other matches were relatively low scoring and ended with a one- or two-goal difference or went to overtime. Capetown Kings used two goalies in the series, with Randomjanne playing well, supported by good defense. The other goalie, Jorkka82, had a save percentage of 80.6% and conceded 6 goals in three games, while Janne had 85.71% and three goals against. Successful players: @Jonza1990 (Hatsigaboom) 5+8 @sambleri 4+7 @Randomjanne 85.71% 1.5 GAA Playoff round 2 matchups! All matches from the first round have now been played, and the teams are ready to fight for a spot in the top eight. Here are the upcoming matchups, and we await to see whether there will be surprises in this round as well, or if the teams who played excellently in the regular season will take the wins. HC Purijat vs Mieskissat Armeijan Kuri vs Beer Bears Dynamo HC vs Nordic Knights Conexion vs Bare Knuckles Hockey Skyfall vs Capetown Kings Nordic Nosebleed vs Kelagoldcard HC VBO Stars vs HC Vilttimiehet Fallen Rangers vs Prowlers

The ECL25 Spring Core Division regular season has wrapped, and what a ride it’s been. With 49 teams fighting for just 32 playoff spots, only the most consistent, balanced, and resilient squads made it through. This article breaks down the top-performing teams, highlights standout players, and provides a preview of the playoff matchups. Whether you're a competitor or a fan, here's everything you need to know about one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory. Playoffs schedule Playoffs (BO7) Round of 32: Tuesday 27.5 Thursday 29.5 Sunday 1.6 Round of 16: Tuesday 3.6. Thursday 5.6. Sunday 8.6. Quarterfinals: Tuesday 10.6. Thursday 12.6. Sunday 15.6. Semifinals: Monday 16.6. Wednesday 18.6. Thursday 19.6. Finals: 25.6 - 26.6 * * Dates are subject to change as broadcast productions are confirmed. Group Breakdown: Who Stood Out and Why Group 1 : Dynamo HC (47 pts): A model of consistency. With 91 goals scored and just 39 conceded, they bring balance and stability to the ice. Their power play efficiency sits at a healthy 28.13%, and their penalty kill is rock solid at 86.49%. VBO Stars (44 pts): Efficient and steady, they’ve allowed only 52 goals. While their power play leaves room for improvement (16.28%), they play with discipline and keep penalty minutes low. Viitapohja Vikings (43 pts): Dangerous offensively (83 GF) and nearly impenetrable on the penalty kill (96.3%). Their main concern lies in defensive consistency. HC Lisko (40 pts): A balanced contender with strong faceoff skills (54.71%) and defensive structure. NAM3LESS (32 pts): This team thrives on toughness. Their 499 hits lead the group. Scoring remains a challenge, but their defense and penalty kill (92.86%) give them a shot in low-scoring games. Beer Bears (26 pts), BACKCHECK BOYS (25 pts), TeNo (24 pts): Also qualified for playoffs, though with more inconsistencies. TeNo's power play is dangerous, but they concede far too many goals. BACKCHECK BOYS and Beer Bears need tighter defense. Group 2 : ARMEIJAN KURI (61 pts): A physically dominant team (665 hits) with a formidable goal differential (101 GF, 52 GA). Their 96.55% penalty kill rate makes them incredibly hard to beat. Nordic Nosebleed (57 pts): Lethal on the power play (34.55%) and aggressive in the offensive zone with 97 goals. Fallen Rangers (50 pts): The league's most explosive offense with 125 goals. Their challenge? Shoring up a defense that gave up 82. CapeTown Kings (37 pts), Bare Knuckles Hockey (35 pts), Auramo Hockey Club (34 pts), HC KOROBKA (33 pts), MIESKISSAT (33 pts): These teams round out the top 8 and secured playoff berths. Auramo and CapeTown offer balanced play. HC KOROBKA and Bare Knuckles bring physicality but must tighten defensively. MIESKISSAT combines strong scoring with faceoff dominance. Group 3 : Harhapassi: Strong defensively (57 GA) with a gritty style (441 hits). Their low faceoff win rate (46.46%) might hurt in close games. SKYFALL: Arguably the most dangerous team with the puck. They boast the best power play (35.14%) and penalty kill (92.31%) in the division. Prowlers: Their mix of solid defense, above-average faceoff wins, and physicality (389 hits) makes them well-rounded contenders. KELAGOLDCARD HC, Surte Sisu HC, Taifun Veterans, Wildcats esport I, Zamboni Zorros: All playoff-bound. KELAGOLDCARD is high scoring but defensively unstable. Surte and Taifun bring offensive threats. Wildcats struggle with control but stay aggressive. Zamboni Zorros sneak in with great faceoffs but need more scoring. Group 4 : HC Purijat (62 pts): The standard for defensive excellence. Allowing just 36 goals all season, they combine efficiency with a physical edge. Conexion (62 pts): Equal in points to Purijat, Conexion plays a disciplined, position-focused game. Their power play at 27.66% is a big factor in close games. Sopranos (47 pts): Built on elite defense and heavy physical play (523 hits). Their penalty kill (94.87%) gives them an edge in grind-it-out matchups. HC Vilttimiehet (44 pts), Koppibuutti (44 pts), Nordic Knights (38 pts), Pulp Odyssey (35 pts), Siniviiva Snipers (33 pts): These teams complete the top 8 and earn playoff spots. Vilttimiehet play tight defensively, while Koppibuutti brings the league’s most physical play. Pulp Odyssey shines in faceoffs; Siniviiva Snipers combine effort with scoring grit. Top Individual Performers Scoring Machines: @Sebko99 (Fallen Rangers): Dominant with 43 goals and 81 points. His ability to score under pressure (7 PPGs, 6 GWGs) sets him apart. @Timo Silakka (Harhapassi): 40 goals with a staggering 44.9% shooting accuracy. Rare efficiency. @nuariatte (HC Purijat): 42 goals, including 13 game-winners. He knows when to show up. Elite Playmakers: @Gadzovec (Taifun Veterans) Leads the league with 44 assists and and incredible vision on the ice. @JaakkoJoonas (HC Purijat): 37 assists with just one goal—a true pass-first player. Two-Way Forces: @Tuhoaja542 & @Bjorssi (xDallee_6) (HC Purijat): Matching +59 ratings show their importance at both ends of the rink. @hefezuk85 (ARMEIJAN KURI): A reliable two-way presence with 27 goals, 35 assists, and a +32 rating. Defensive Wall Builders: @JakkeDangles & @DobboJ90 (Conexion): +42 each. Defensive pillars that rarely take penalties. @Zamiboii (Zambouni_ )(HC Lisko): Another high + rating (+31) with low PIMs—an efficient shutdown D-man. Goaltending Aces: @Japemode (HC Purijat): A 1.41 GAA and 21 wins in 22 games is pure dominance. @Joe NHL (Gremlingswe) (Conexion): 8 shutouts and 1.58 GAA make him the goalie to watch. @Jiihooo86 (HC Vilttimiehet): Solid numbers across the board (SV% 84.15 2.17 GAA, 15W, 4 SO). @Mrantonn (Prowlers): A steady force with 87.64% SV% GAA: 2.25, proving he can handle playoff pressure. Playoff Matchups & Predictions This year’s playoff bracket is stacked from top to bottom. Here’s a full look at the 16 opening-round matchups, along with predictions based on team stats, form, and key player impact. Seed 1 vs Seed 8: HC Purijat vs TeNo: Purijat comes in with elite defense and depth scoring. TeNo’s high-pace offense might steal a game, but their leaky defense (94 GA) is a big liability. Expect Purijat to dominate puck control and capitalize on special teams. Prediction: 4–1 Purijat ARMEIJAN KURI vs Zamboni Zorros: Zorros will struggle to match KURI’s physicality and penalty kill. KURI’s structure is built for playoff grind, and their 665 hits say it all. Prediction: 4–1 ARMEIJAN KURI Harhapassi vs Siniviiva Snipers: Harhapassi brings heavy defense and discipline, while Siniviiva lacks in goal support. If Harhapassi avoids penalties, they should cruise. Prediction: 4–1 Harhapassi Dynamo HC vs MIESKISSAT: Dynamo scores over 4.5 per game and defends tight. MIESKISSAT will need heroics in goal to compete. Prediction: 4–0 Dynamo Seed 2 vs Seed 7: Conexion vs BACKCHECK BOYS: Conexion’s possession and structure give them a big edge. BACKCHECK has some bite but lacks defensive discipline. Prediction: 4–1 Conexion SKYFALL vs HC KOROBKA: SKYFALL’s explosive attack and elite special teams should expose KOROBKA’s defensive gaps. Prediction: 4–2 SKYFALL Nordic Nosebleed vs Wildcats esport I: Nosebleed’s power play will be a key difference. Wildcats are physical, but outgunned. Prediction: 4–2 Nosebleed VBO Stars vs Pulp Odyssey: VBO’s consistency gives them the edge, but Pulp’s faceoff win rate might create some close games. Prediction: 4–1 VBO Seed 3 vs Seed 6: Viitapohja Vikings vs Beer Bears: Vikings have an incredible PK (96%) and better balance. Beer Bears concede too many goals. Prediction: 4–2 Vikings Fallen Rangers vs Auramo HC: Rangers’ top line is dangerous. Auramo plays disciplined, but can't match the firepower. Prediction: 4–1 Rangers Sopranos vs Nordic Knights: A clash of styles—Sopranos’ elite PK vs Nordic’s faceoff control. Should go the distance. Prediction: 4–3 Sopranos Prowlers vs Taifun Veterans: High offense vs high control. Taifun scores more, but their 59% PK is a problem. Prediction: 4–3 Prowlers Seed 4 vs Seed 5: HC Lisko vs Bare Knuckles Hockey: Lisko controls the puck better and has tighter defense. Bare Knuckles will need to stay out of the box. Prediction: 4–2 Lisko HC Vilttimiehet vs NAM3LESS: NAM3LESS is physical but Vilttimiehet’s structured play and PK should hold. Prediction: 4–3 Vilttimiehet KELAGOLDCARD HC vs Surte Sisu HC: Surte has better faceoff numbers and slightly better defense. Could go either way. Prediction: 4–3 Surte CapeTown Kings vs Koppibuutti: Two tight defensive teams, but Koppibuutti hits harder and scores more consistently. Prediction: 4–2 Koppibuutti Final Thoughts From elite scorers to lockdown goaltenders, and from physical grinders to surgical power plays, this season delivered excellence. Now the playoffs are here—and every round promises drama. The top seeds are confident, but mid-tier teams like the Prowlers, Sopranos, and Surte Sisu HC could shake things up. Buckle up for a thrilling finish—the battle for the Core crown is on.