Jacob Stone delivers 1000th VHL hit

[scoop 3,447]

Jacob Stone went Malmo's 53rd game of the season with 999 career hits, on the verge of becoming the seventh player to reach 1000 hits as a Nighthawk. He ended the game with just one hit, but that was all he needed to reach the milestone. On the receiving end of the hit was Antonia Bucatini of the Dynamo. The rookie has been a common target this season. In the game, ten of Malmo's 23 hits were delivered unto Bucatini; for the season, she has been the recipient of a league-leading 219 hits.

 

Malmo won the game by a score of 4-0. All four goals were scored by Phillip Rave, bringing him up to 27 for the season, with Stone assisting on each one. Ash Sparks got the win, bringing him to within six of the franchise record of 222. It was his fifth shutout of the season. The Nighthawks are now on a three-game winning streak, including an 11-3 thrashing of the Stars. They are tied with London for first in the European Conference and are just one point behind Toronto in the overall standings. A Victory Cup for the Nighthawks would be their third in a row, though the team would much prefer to see some post-season success.