The World Cup of Hockey’s preliminary round kicked with two games and two shutouts: Team Europe over Team USA 3-0 (Steven Stamkos had an assist, 2 PIMs, 4 shots in 15:53) Team Canada over Team Czech Republic 6-0. What will today’s matchups have in store?
(This article will continue to be updated so check back for the latest news!)
Team Sweden vs. Team Russia
3 p.m. Eastern, ESPN
Lightning players on Team Sweden: Anton Stralman, Victor Hedman
Sweden lineup updates: Will be updated
Lightning players on Team Russia: Nikita Kucherov, Nikita Nesterov, Vlad Namestnikov, Andrei Vasilevskiy
Russia lineup updates: Sergei Bobrovsky gets the starting nod.
Stories to hold you over before the game:
- As if the Swedish defense weren’t stacked already, Nicklas Lidstrom has been their senior adviser
- Analytics is a team sport for Team Sweden
- In the Captain Obvious category, Vladimir Tarasenko’s going to be a threat for Russia
- Finding fault in Henrik Lundqvist/
Team North America vs. Team Finland
8 p.m. Eastern, ESPN2
Lightning players on Team North America: Jonathan Drouin, Jon Cooper (assistant coach)
North America lineup updates: Matt Murray will start tonight.
NA lines vs. Finland
Matthews – McDavid – Scheifele
Gaudreau – Eichel – Larkin
Drouin – RNH – MacKinnon
Trocheck – Couturier – Saad— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) September 18, 2016
Lightning players on Team Finland: Valtteri Filppula
Finland lineup updates: Pekka Rinne will start in goal.
Stories to hold you over before the game:
- When the criticism came down, the NHL stuck by the creation of Team North America
- Patrick Laine is Finland’s main attraction
- Team North America ready to follow Team Europe’s shocking lead
- Get to known Team Finland/
They said it:
Finland’s coach Lauri Marjamaki says he expects Team NA to play “like Team USA.”
Perhaps something lost in translation there.— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) September 18, 2016
