Helsinki 8-1-1 Start

[tcookie 998]

10 games into the new season, it appears that the off-season moves made by the Helsinki Titans are paying dividends. The Titans started off with a tough 5-1 loss to the Prague Phantoms, but have gone 8-0-1 since, with their second game of the season being a 6-5 shootout loss against the HC Davos Dynamo, followed by an eight-game winning streak. Grimgor Ironhide and Phillip Rave both sit in the top-10 in league scoring, with identical 7 goal, 11 assist stat lines thus far. They have fit together nicely on Helsinki's top line and are putting up big numbers.

 

The Titans are actually 6-0-0 with starting netminder Jorgen Lovstrom in net. Last season's best goalie and most outstanding player, Lovstrom has a .948 SV% and 1.48 GAA while backup Draw Mac is 2-1-1 with a .920 SV% and 3.16 GAA in his VHL rookie season. Mac is unlikely to unseat Lovstrom any time soon but does have legitimate VHL starter potential himself.

 

The Titans went all-in on trying to compete this season with a series of moves that certainly mortgaged their future. Their window to win is now basically this season and next. But if they keep playing like this, they may have a chance to make it all worth the risk.