Claimed: It was 3-1

[Higgins 3,618]

It was 3-1. But it should not have been. When the Helsinki Titans went down 3-1 in the series versus the Cologne Express, they knew it was far from over. The Titans had logged countless more practice hours during the season when compared to the Cologne roster, and the Titans knew their hard work would pay off against the cocky Express. It took the full 7 game series for the Helsinki Titans to defeat the Cologne Express, but it doesn't matter how they did it. Just the fact that they won 4 games means they earned another series. For the new Titans era this is an amazing start with their first season of competing turning into a season where they won a playoff series and still have everything to play for.

 

 

After a rough start to the series in the first four games for Astrid Moon (@Da Trifecta), the Titans goaltender was able to keep his composure and help the team limit the high scoring Express to only 7 goals over the last three games of the series. Sometimes it's easy to forget the Titans goalie is just in his rookie season, with the expectations of a veteran filled lineup on his back, Moon has continued to impress his teammates, while tuning out any outside noise. His teammates believe they can win with Moon in the net, and every single game they have a shot because they have the hardest working goalie in the league.

 

One of the biggest catalysts for the Titans success has been trade deadline pickup Sir William Covington III (@BobertZ). Another veteran presence was needed on forward with the team playing three rookies, all at forward. Covington has joined the Titans on a mission and that is to prove that he can lead a team himself. With 11 points in the 7 game series with Cologne he is proving his trade deadline pickup worth and turning heads in Titan teal as he centers two rookies.

 

Two of the rookies on the team have connected with a second line bond this season for the Titans, now with Covington to lead the way. Daryl Dortch (@evrydayimbyfuglien) and Sami Zayn (@Tylar) were selected in the S52 Entry Draft by the Titans and have fit in perfectly on the second line in their rookie seasons. Zayn was able to score 6 points over the Express series, while Dortch only had 1 goal, he threw a team leading 42 hits to wear down the small roster of Cologne. These two rookies are part of the best second line in the VHL right now.

 

Team captain and emotional leader Franchise Cornerstone (@boubabi) has started creating his own legacy in Titans history this season. Being their youngest captain in history the pressure was accepted by Cornerstone and he has run with the ball. Cornerstone has been going up against the best centers in the league and takes pride in outworking them every week. In the playoffs he's notched 8 points against Cologne and is hungry to sink the Vikings. On the wing with Cornerstone is veteran winger Theo Axelsson (@solas), a man who does not fuck around. Axelsson will prey on defense and forwards on Stockholm as he makes it his mission to throw as many hits as possible. He plays on a fine line and when he's in tow, there is no stopping Axelsson. He scored 6 points to lead the team versus Cologne, and also threw 41 hits over the 7 games. Keep your head up.

 

On defense, the free agent acquisition of Shayne Gow (@Fire Hakstol) has paid dividends for the defensive depth of the Titans. The Titans boast the deepest blue line in the league and Gow is a part of that. He can play first or second pairing minutes against any of the top players in the league. He's also proven to be quite the offensive threat versus Cologne with 8 points. Additionally on defense is Maksym Barnyashev (@Wasty), you may not have heard about him but he is one of the best up and coming defenders in the league. He spent S52 on the Titans roster and knows the pain of a losing team. Now he wants a taste of victory after going through the tough times in Helsinki. These two players compliment the game of veteran Black Velvet on the blue line.

 

 

Now onto the Stockholm Vikings. The Titans are high off a huge comeback in their first series and will look to carry that momentum into Stockholm on Sunday night. The league will be very lucky if this series goes the distance to a decisive game 7.

 

 

[eaglesfan036 4,605]

being down 3-1 is exactly where helsinki should want to be

[Da Trifecta 1,902]

Onward to Stockholm