The United States delivered a powerful performance on Saturday night, starting with three fights in the first nine seconds and ending with a victory over Canada and a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off final. Matthew Tkachuk, who had hoped for such a display, was pleased with the outcome.
“We needed to send a message,” Tkachuk said. “The message we wanted to send is ‘It’s our time.’”
The game began with intensity as Tkachuk fought Brandon Hagel right off the opening faceoff. His brother Brady then tangled with Sam Bennett, followed by J.T. Miller dropping the gloves with Colton Parayko. The physicality set the tone for the game, which the U.S. finished with a 3-1 win over their rivals.
Dylan Larkin, who scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, described the game as one of the best experiences of his life. “The Tkachuk brothers and Millsy, what a start, and credit to those guys for answering the bell,” Larkin said. “The crowd, just a great night for our sport and a great night for this rivalry.”
The much-anticipated game of the 4 Nations round-robin play lived up to the hype, featuring fast-paced action and intense physicality throughout. From the fights off the opening faceoff to big hits from Charlie McAvoy on Canadian stars Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, the game had it all. Connor Hellebuyck made several crucial saves, totaling 24 in the game. The United States proved it could match Canada’s speed, skill, and talent in the first international tournament with NHL’s top players in almost a decade.
“What an incredible hockey game,” said U.S. coach Mike Sullivan.
The thrilling game took place amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Canada, longtime allies, with the crowd at Bell Centre—21,105 strong—loudly booing during the pregame U.S. anthem. The hostility quickly transferred to the ice as soon as the game began, with Matthew Tkachuk challenging Brandon Hagel to a fight off the opening faceoff. Hagel responded, dropping the gloves just two seconds into the game.
As soon as the puck dropped, the intensity continued with Brady Tkachuk challenging Sam Bennett to a fight just three seconds into the game. J.T. Miller then cross-checked Colton Parayko, and the two quickly exchanged blows, making it a trio of fights in the first minute. The idea for this aggressive start came from a group chat between the Tkachuk brothers and Miller. Canada’s coach, Jon Cooper, described the opening moments as pure “mayhem.”
“It was, I guess, 10 years of no international hockey exhaled in a minute and a half,” Cooper remarked.
Though the early brawls didn’t go well for the U.S.—with the Tkachuks sitting in the penalty box for five minutes—Canada’s advantage didn’t last long. Connor McDavid dazzled, speeding past the U.S. defensemen McAvoy and Werenski before scoring a brilliant backhander over Hellebuyck, a goal that many goalies would have had trouble stopping.
However, Canada’s goaltending became a concern when Jake Guentzel beat Jordan Binnington through the five-hole to tie the game midway through the first period. Later, Sidney Crosby made an uncharacteristic mistake with a turnover, and coupled with a poor line change, it allowed Dylan Larkin to capitalize on a 2-on-1 break and score, giving the U.S. the lead.
Brady Tkachuk praised his teammate Dylan Larkin for his confidence in taking the shot that ultimately became the game-winner. “He’s not afraid to shoot it,” Tkachuk said. “He’s got a great shot, and it ended up being the game-winner.”
Despite some key saves by Canada’s goalie Jordan Binnington, the Canadian team, missing top defenseman Cale Makar due to illness, couldn’t find a way to tie the game. The U.S. defense, led by Connor Hellebuyck in goal, held strong against Canada’s efforts. With just 1:19 left on the clock, Jake Guentzel sealed the victory by scoring into an empty net, putting Canada in a must-win scenario for their next match against Finland.
“It’s kind of like a Game 7,” said McDavid. “A lot of guys in this room have been in that situation before. Got to get a win.”
The U.S. has no pressure in their upcoming game against Sweden, but there is concern about Matthew Tkachuk, who didn’t finish the game due to a lower-body injury. Tkachuk downplayed the injury, saying, “I feel good. Definitely way better after a win. Should be all good.”