With his team holding a three-goal aggregate lead into the second leg, Espoo Blues forward Roope Talaja looks ahead to Tuesday's game in Mannheim against the German champions.

by Eero Hurmerinta

ESPOO – The Espoo Blues will travel to Germany to play the return game against Adler Mannheim in the Round of 32. The Finnish side won the first game 4–1 despite being outshot 33–19 by the German champions. Power forward Roope Talaja is one of the players who can give important secondary scoring for the team.

Two wins and one loss in the past week. How do you feel about the trend in the team?

“The trend is upwards within the team, but there's still a lot work to do. The journey is at the beginning and we are going forward step by step.”

You're beginning the return game with three-goal advantage. How do you feel about that?

“We can't think too much about how the first game finished. We have to play the return game like any single game. We begin every game targeting to win that one.”

What kind of impression did Adler Mannheim leave on you in the first game?

“There are tough professionals in that team – big and strong as well as fast and skilled guys. It's a very good team and a big challenge for us. We have to play a strong game as a team if we want to win. We have to succeed at every aspect of the game. No one can take a night off.”

You had an altercation with Brandon Yip in the first game. How did you see that?

“There was a lot of emotion in that game. That's part of hockey and I like to play when there's lots of action in the game. Hopefully the same continues in Mannheim, the arena might be full and it's going to be a big show there.”

What expectations you have on the atmosphere in Mannheim?

“If the arena is full, we have to enjoy it the right way. You rarely get a chance to play in front of crowd like that. We have to see it as a plus.”

How different you think the game in Mannheim will be compared to one in Espoo?

“They want to play for their home crowd and I expect them to be forechecking hard. I expect a physical battle.”

Read more on the Adler Mannheim–Espoo Blues series HERE.