Nighthawks impress in USA vs Eastern Europe games

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Day 2 of the S90 World Cup featured two exciting matchups between the United States and Eastern Europe. Fans of the Malmo Nighthawks in particular were heavily invested in these games, and what they saw was promising for an improvement from the team in Season 91. Team USA features a pair of newcomers on defense: Skor McFleury and Jacob Stone. McFleury was acquired by the Nighthawks during the off-season, while Stone has been with the team since being a draft-day acquisition back in S88. Team Eastern Europe includes Malmo forwards Yaroslav Trunov, Henry Eagles, and Yaroslav Bogatyrev. Trunov is the longest tenured Nighthawk, having joined the team back in S87 after being drafted 6th overall. Eagles will be entering his second season with the Nighthawks, while Bogatyrev was one of the marquee free agent signings of the off-season. All five of these players showed up on the score sheets in both games of what may be a preview of the gold medal contest.

 

In the first game between the two teams, it was the Nighthawk forwards and Team Eastern Europe that game out ahead. They struck early, taking a 3-0 lead in the first period. Bogatyrev notched a goal and an assist, while Trunov and Eagles together on the second line assisted on a goal as well. McFleury and Stone, with two points each, helped Team USA tie up the game in regulation, but Eastern Europe got the victory in the shootout. Bogatyrev and Stone were named the first and second stars of the game, respectively.

 

In the second matchup, Team USA turned the tide, but it was Henry Eagles who stole the show. The game was a 5-4 victory for the stars and stripes, with McFleury and Stone once again each notching a pair of points after falling behind early in the game. Bogatyrev scored one of Eastern Europe's goals, while Eagles scored the other three, including one assisted by Trunov. Eagles rightfully earned the first star, and Stone repeated on the pedestal as the third star.

 

The round robin portion of the World Cup has now concluded, and with the playoffs set, there is a chance that these two teams will meet in the gold medal round. Team Eastern Europe is the number one seed, so they have earned the bye in the first round. Team USA ended up with the third seed, so they will have a tougher path, which would include a game against Team Canada, against whom they went 0-2.