World Cup tonight: Sweden vs. Russia and North America vs. Finland

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