Up and Down Start for Malmo

[tcookie 927]

The Malmo Nighthawks got off to a hot start this season, sporting a 6-1-0 record through 7 games, but have suffered a recent lapse in play that leaves them in the middle of the pack in the VHL standings. The Nighthawks have lost 4 of 5 including allowing 1-10-1 Davos to claim their only win of the season, 3-2 in a shootout, earlier today.

 

Sophomore centre Phillip Rave, who has personally had a successful start to the season with 8 goals and 16 points in the first 12 games, didn't seem particularly fazed by the recent slip-up. He did acknowledge that they can't let it continue, though. "We had a cold spell at the start of last year, and a pretty up-and-down first half of the season... then we really got it going. So hey, it's early, I'm not going to read too much into this. But obviously, losing 4 out of 5, not something you ever like to see. So it's far from panic time, I still completely believe in this group of guys but yeah obviously we need to get this thing turned around. Need to start playing the right way."

 

Ten of the VHL's 16 teams are group within a 4-point gap (12 to 16 points) thus far, so that "middle of the pack" is pretty competitive right now, and every point counts. Positioning in the standings can be huge come playoff time, and the Nighthawks still have aspirations of a second-consecutive Victory Cup. We'll see if they can right the ship as they get back on the ice tomorrow for a rematch against Davos.