USA vs Canada Hockey Clash: Intense Brawls Kick Off 4 Nations Face-Off, America Secures Victory

It was the beginning that nobody anticipated on the 4 Nations Face-Off’s marquee conflict, however nobody complained about.

The puck had barely touched the ice when Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel squared off, electrifying an already buzzing Bell Centre. The Montreal crowd had sung “Ole” as Canada took the ice, Sidney Crosby’s identify as he collected a commemorative banner in a pre-game ceremony. They belted O Canada as loud as they’d at a Montreal Canadiens playoff recreation. And, in fact, they mercilessly booed The Star-Spangled Banner.

The USA would come out on prime with a 3-1 victory Saturday, shutting down the Canadians with robust defensive play, excellent goaltending from Connor Helleybuck, and objectives from Jake Guentzel (two) and Dylan Larkin. However the groups set the tone early within the first interval. Tkachuk and Hagel dueled at heart ice, igniting an adrenaline-filled 20 minutes.

“I’m standing down right here,” mentioned Ray Ferraro, ESPN’s shade commentator who was stationed between the benches, “And I believe there’s zero likelihood that we see the puck hit the ice for multiple second earlier than we’re gonna see each Tkachuk brothers sitting in the identical penalty field.”

One second later, Brady Tkachuk dropped the gloves with Sam Bennett. Brady high-fived his brother as he entered the penalty field. It was virtually just like the Tkachuks had deliberate to ship a message early.

“There was just a little dialogue throughout the day,” Brady laughed as he spoke to reporters after the sport.

“Inform them the reality,” mentioned Matthew, who sat to Brady’s left.

“Yeah, there was a gaggle chat happening at this time,” Brady mentioned.

“Brady and Matthew, they play the sport with a lot emotion,” USA head coach Mike Sullivan mentioned. “And so they’re leaders. They’re leaders in so some ways, and so for me, it’s a sign of how a lot these guys care and the way unhealthy they need to win.”

9 seconds in, New York Rangers ahead J.T. Miller fought Colton Parayko as the 2 sides gathered in entrance of Canada netminder Jordan Binnington following a routine save.

“You must set the tone,” Miller mentioned. “And when you might have the Tkachuk brothers in your group, it’s simply constructed for them. These are my favourite kind of video games to be in and I simply suppose that there’s a tone to be set. Not a lot must be mentioned. What higher place to do it than in Montreal?”

“I had considerably of an concept that that was going to occur, however I had no concept that was going to occur like that,” USA defenseman Zach Werenski, who was on the ice for the fights, mentioned. “Off the start of the draw. I believed it was electrical. I believe it’s nice for the sport. It’s nice for the rivalry. It was superior.”

From there, the groups settled into an up-tempo, bodily battle. They mixed for 63 hits — 34 by the U.S. and 29 by Canada. However the largest hit of the evening got here from Charlie McAvoy, who was second among the many People with 5.

Midway by the primary interval, Canada led 1-0 behind a Connor McDavid solo sprint. Because the Edmonton Oilers celebrity gained the offensive zone, he chipped the puck previous McAvoy. McAvoy, a Lengthy Island native and Boston Bruins blue-liner, flattened McDavid. 

“That is such a particular second for our complete household for apparent causes,” Sullivan, who’s McAvoy’s father-in-law, mentioned. “He’s only a fierce competitor. He’s a terrific hockey participant.”

The hit helped swing momentum within the People’ favor. Just a few seconds later, Guentzel tied the sport at one together with his first of two objectives, capitalizing on Canada’s sub-elite goaltending with a nasty angle shot by the five-hole of Binnington.

“He’s a high-stakes participant,” Sullivan mentioned of Guentzel. “He performs his highest when it means probably the most. And I don’t suppose there’s a stage large enough for him, I simply suppose he thrives in most of these environments.”

The adrenaline started to put on off within the second interval, however the U.S. took the lead as Larkin scored on a two-on-one, catching Canada on a line change and beating Binnington below the blocker.

Although the U.S. spent many of the third interval in their very own zone, they stayed defensively tight. Hellebuyck turned apart 25 of the 26 pictures he confronted. Guentzel iced the sport with a late empty web purpose. By the tip, Bell Centre was surprisingly quiet after the sport’s raucous begin.

With Saturday’s win, the U.S. clinched a spot within the championship recreation, which can be performed on Feb. 20.

The event will shift to TD Backyard in Boston on Monday, the place the ultimate three video games — together with the championship — can be performed.

Lineup notes

Matthew Tkachuk sat out the ultimate 12:36 of the third interval with a lower-body damage and was being evaluated by group medical doctors, Sullivan mentioned. Matthew informed reporters after the sport that he had “no concern” about his damage. Chris Kreider of the Rangers is the additional ahead for the U.S.

Cale Makar missed the sport with an sickness. Canada head coach Jon Cooper mentioned the star defenseman was near taking part in, however “a call was made for him to not play.” Cooper was hopeful that Makar can be again in Canada’s lineup Monday, “however there’s no dedication on that but.”

Thomas Harley, who was known as up after Shea Theodore was dominated out for the rest of the event, was within the lineup. Makar was at morning skate, so Harley didn’t apply with the group previous to the sport, per event guidelines.