There was a narrative taking hold before the 4 Nations Face-off began that pushed the idea that the tournament just might look like what it was replacing – an All-Star Game.
But it took less than a minute in Canada’s thrilling overtime victory over Sweden – as Team Maple Leaf’s beast-like power play to whip the puck around the rink before scoring 56 seconds into the game – to dispel that silly notion.
Both Canada’s tough win over Tre Kronor and USA’s slightly misleading 6-1 victory over Finland (it was a one-goal game after 40 minutes before Jusse Saros imploded) on Thursday showed that all four of the countries involved in this best-on-best tourney – the first of its kind since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey – are not mailing anything in.
But as entertaining as the first two games were, they were just a precursor for what everyone is now eagerly anticipating on Saturday night when Canada takes on the USA in what the NHL and NHLPA surely hopes is the first of two matchups between these hockey titans.
With any luck, the teams will meet again in the final on Thursday at the Garden. Sweden is capable of disrupting that scenario, but Canada-U.S. is what everyone not of Swedish or Finnish descent wants.
Canada, as you might know, has had it all over the U.S. in best-on-best play, posting a 14-4-1 record dating back to the 1976 Canada Cup. The Americans’ most recent showing in a best-on-best tourney was a disappointing 0-3 record in the 2016 World Cup which saw them lose to Canada, 4-2.
But in some observers’ estimation, this is the most talented squad that the U.S. has ever iced. The loss of Quinn Hughes on the back end was a bit of a blow, but the blue line remains a strong suit for the Yanks. Up front, there’s a the likes of Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews (held in check by Finland’s Sasha Barkov on Thursday), Jack Hughes, Jake Guentzel and Kyle Connor.
There is talent, yes. But the U.S. also has something that maybe past teams – with the exception of the Keith Tkachuk-led American team that won the 1996 World Cup – did not have. Skilled edge. And this team has not one Tkachuk, but two, Matthew and Brady. And it was the in-game move from coach Mike Sullivan of putting both Tkachuks on a line with Eichel that changed the vibe of the game for the Americans in their win over Finland.
The Canadians took notice. Sam Bennett, who has patented a move where he sneakily punches players with the butt end of his stick, will be inserted into the lineup for Travis Konecny and will skate on a line with Brad Marchand, a recipient of just such a punch last spring, and Seth Jarvis. As the folks up north say, that’s a tough line to play against. We’ll see how much love Bennett really has for his Florida Panther teammate, Matthew Tkachuk.
“It’ll be interesting to see if Sam and Matthew meet in a corner at some point,” Canada coach Jon Cooper mused to reporters in Montreal on Friday.
On the back end, Canada does have an issue. Shea Theodore suffered what looked like a wrist injury against Sweden and will be lost for the tournament, replaced by Travis Sanheim. But Cale Makar, arguably one of the two best players in the tournament, missed Friday’s practice with illness. Though Cooper said he expects Makar to be ready, Canada received permission from the league to bring in Dallas Stars’ defenseman Thomas Harley into the mix as a possible replacement.
Meanwhile, Sullivan would not divulge what lineup changes, if any, he’d be making for Saturday’s showdown at the Bell Centre, though there’s been some speculation that Jake Sanderson could draw in on the back end. Defense is the strength of the U.S. with Zach Werenski, Charlie McAvoy, Jaccob Slavin and Adam Fox. It will have to be with Canada’s dizzying array of offensive talent in Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.
“It’s going to be about what team wants it more,” Chelmsford’s Eichel told reporters in Montreal after the Finland game.
“Wanting it more” has usually been more a part of Canada’s DNA in these tourneys, embodied by 37-year-old Sidney Crosby. He has been a great NHL player, but on the world stage he’s been incredible, leading Canada to 26 straight wins in international games he’s played. If you’re wondering who the Canadians will rally around in this tournament, look no further than the Pittsburgh Penguin captain.
But the Americans are playing with tangible emotion in this tourney, too. Not only did USA Hockey bring in members of the 1980 Miracle on Ice team, which produced America’s greatest international victory, this team is playing with the memory of Johnny Gaudreau – killed with his brother Matthew in a tragic accident just before the season – at the forefront of their minds.
The Gaudreaus’ father, Guy, who coached at the youth level, joined the team for a pre-tourney practice and Johnny’s No. 13 jersey was given to Brady Tkachuk for his Player of the Game performance over Finland. Johnny, who played with many of the current players in international competition, no doubt would have been on this roster.
Yup, Team USA goes up against Canada on Saturday night in Montreal. And no, it’s not going to look like any All-Star Game.