MONTREAL — Workforce USA, using the surge of three first-period fights within the opening 9 seconds, claimed a 3-1 win over Workforce Canada on Saturday on the Bell Centre. Matthew Tkachuk began the fisticuffs in opposition to Brandon Hagel. Brother Brady Tkachuk adopted with a tilt in opposition to Sam Bennett. J.T. Miller accomplished the set by combating Colton Parayko.
In accordance with Brady Tkachuk, he and his brother have been among the many members in a Saturday group chat that mentioned the potential of off-the-drop fisticuffs. Matthew Tkachuk began it by asking Hagel to combat.
“Needed to ship a message,” Matthew mentioned. “We’re right here in Montreal on a Saturday night time. We wish it to be our time. That’s the message despatched proper from the get-go.”
Brady felt like he had no alternative however to comply with.
“Matthew’s combat to begin it off was simply such an vitality enhance,” Brady mentioned. “I feel I used to be extra excited, extra nervous than my very own. Then Millsy to cap it off, to (go) in opposition to a giant man like that, he did an important job. It was a fairly superior expertise.”
Jake Guentzel doesn’t get entangled in such confrontations. However, he loved it.
“That was simply unbelievable,” mentioned the expert ahead. “The beginning of the sport, that was fairly electrical, getting the followers into it. Hats off to these guys. It simply will get you into the sport. You’re already into the sport, however simply seeing these guys exit like that, that was fairly cool. Everybody simply ramped up much more.”
In the meantime, the Individuals stifled the explosive Canada offense by limiting the Canadians to 26 photographs. Connor Hellebuyck, taking part in his signature technically sound sport, stopped 25 photographs, together with a Connor McDavid high-slot probability within the third to maintain it 2-1.
“It’s fairly cool to see all the most effective gamers within the nation chipping pucks within the third, blocking photographs and doing the little issues that rely,” Matthew Tkachuk mentioned. “I had a front-row seat for it. It was fairly cool to see the buy-in from everyone. You’re seeing a few of the greatest gamers on this planet doing it. I feel it speaks volumes to what sort of character now we have on that workforce. Rising up, it’s type of instilled in us.”
Workforce USA, with six factors, has earned a spot within the 4 Nations Face-Off championship sport on Thursday.
Matthew Tkachuk injured
Tkachuk was restricted within the third interval. The winger stayed on the U.S. bench, however he didn’t take a single shift since 7:24 of the third. It was considered one of three shifts for the ability ahead within the third interval.
Matthew Tkachuk simply informed the teaching workers he could not go, in accordance with Ray Ferarro 😳 pic.twitter.com/d2WOHKuDyr
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 16, 2025
Tkachuk didn’t disclose what he was coping with within the third. It’s unknown whether or not he’ll be out there for the Individuals’ sport in opposition to Sweden on Monday. Coach Mike Sullivan categorized it as a lower-body harm.
“Felt good,” mentioned Tkachuk. “Feels method higher after a win. Ought to be good.”
Larkin emerges in second
Dylan Larkin began the event as America’s No. 4 proper wing. He is not going to be again there anytime quickly.
Larkin, promoted to third-line heart in opposition to Canada, was electrical within the second interval. He practically executed an inside-out transfer in entrance of Jordan Binnington, however rang his shot off the left publish.
Larkin made up for his miss later within the second.
The Individuals made a stout play within the defensive zone. Matt Boldy picked off a Sidney Crosby cross to provoke a two-on-one rush for Larkin and Miller. In the meantime, Thomas Harley had gone off the ice for a change after getting the puck into the offensive zone.
With solely Travis Sanheim again for Canada, Larkin pushed the tempo and whistled a shot on web, by no means even taking a look at Miller as an choice. Larkin’s shot sizzled by Jordan Binnington, giving the Individuals a 2-1 lead.
USA TAKES THE LEAD 🦅 #4Nations
🇺🇸: ABC & @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/S5tPrXCygm
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/XwYDc9Snxk— NHL (@NHL) February 16, 2025
Restricted offense for Canada
The Canadians had 26 photographs, however not sufficient of top of the range, particularly from the highest six. Nathan MacKinnon and Mitch Marner had one shot every. Crosby had none.
“It was robust to generate offense each methods,” mentioned McDavid (three photographs). “Two groups that have gotten a number of respect for one another offensively, and it comes right down to a shot. I feel that’s the best way we anticipated it to go.”
Quiet however regular play from Slavin
Jaccob Slavin doesn’t have the dynamic offensive sport of Zach Werenski. However Slavin, the regular left-shot defenseman, led the Individuals with 17:28 of ice time by two intervals. The stay-at-homer was on the ice for each of his workforce’s objectives.
Slavin isn’t the quickest skater both. However he’s good positionally and has a superb stick.
McDavid vs. McAvoy
Charlie McAvoy is among the league’s stouter defenders. However McAvoy was helpless in opposition to Connor McDavid’s ludicrous pace. Within the first interval, after taking an outlet cross within the impartial zone from Drew Doughty, McDavid punched the turbos, blew previous McAvoy and catapulted a backhander over Hellebuyck for the sport’s opening purpose.
McAvoy appeared to take it personally.
Later within the first, McAvoy dropped McDavid with a hip verify, then shoved his head towards the ice. On the next shift, McAvoy thumped McDavid alongside the boards. McAvoy and accomplice Werenski have been tasked with matching McDavid, Sam Reinhart and Marner.
“That is also a message-sending second,” Matthew Tkachuk mentioned of McAvoy flattening McDavid. “Most likely one of many performs of the sport. They simply scored a purpose. The constructing was rocking. Charlie is available in there and he pops McDavid. Like, one of many hardest hits I’ve seen. I assumed we did an important job of dealing with our feelings and hitting when attainable. I assumed Charlie was unbelievable tonight.”
Binnington shaky early
Jake Guentzel approached with tempo off the push. He took a tape-to-tape cross from Jack Eichel. However Guentzel was outdoors the left dot when he launched a 22-foot shot. Most goalies cease such photographs with ease. However Jordan Binnington let Guentzel’s shot slip by his pads, tying the sport at 1-1. It was a shot Binnington needed to cease.
Whereas it was Guentzel’s purpose, Eichel created the possibility. The middle stripped Devon Toews within the defensive zone and quickly carried the puck by the impartial zone. Eichel has been the Individuals’ greatest transition heart.
Makar out, Harley in
Cale Makar didn’t play in opposition to the U.S. as a result of he was sick. Harley, added to Canada’s roster, changed Makar on protection. Harley took Makar’s common spot subsequent to Devon Toews.
Brad Marchand served because the No. 2 alternate captain in Makar’s place. McDavid is the opposite alternate.
Marchand performed with Sam Bennett and Seth Jarvis. Bennett changed Travis Konecny.
Wholesome scratches
Chris Kreider, Jake Sanderson and Jeremy Swayman have been the wholesome scratches for the Individuals. They have been additionally out of uniform in opposition to Finland within the event opener.
Konecny and Sam Montembeault have been the wholesome scratches for Canada.
Sullivan is aware of Crosby greatest
There isn’t a coach who is aware of Crosby higher than Mike Sullivan. So regardless of the Workforce Canada captain does, similar to arrange his workforce’s successful extra time purpose within the event opener, is not any shock to Sullivan.
“He’s a big-game participant,” mentioned the Workforce USA coach. “I’ve witnessed it firsthand for a decade now. Sid tends to be at his greatest when the stakes are excessive. That’s what I witnessed the opposite night time. I anticipate he’ll be at his greatest in opposition to us.”
(Picture of Dylan Larkin: Andre Ringuette / 4NFO / World Cup of Hockey by way of Getty Photos)