MONTREAL (AP) — Starting with three fights in the first nine seconds and ending with a celebration and a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off final, the United States delivered exactly what Matthew Tkachuk hoped for by beating Canada on Saturday night.
“We needed to send a message,” Tkachuk said. “The message we wanted to send is ‘It’s our time.’”
Tkachuk fought Brandon Hagel off the opening faceoff, brother Brady tussled with Sam Bennett the next time the puck dropped, J.T. Miller dropped the gloves with Colton Parayko next and the Americans followed those fisticuffs with a 3-1 victory over their biggest rival.
“That was one of the best experiences of my life — just an unbelievable hockey game,” said Dylan Larkin, who scored the go-ahead goal in the second period. "The Tkachuk brothers and Millsy, what a start, and credit to those guys for answering the bell. And the crowd, just a great night for our sport and a great night for this rivalry."
Played at a blistering pace with physicality throughout, the most anticipated game of 4 Nations round-robin play did not disappoint, from the fisticuffs off the opening faceoff to big hits from Charlie McAvoy on Canadian star Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid and more than a few vital saves by Connor Hellebuyck among his 24. And the U.S. showed it could keep up with Canada's speed, skill and talent in the first international tournament with the NHL's best players in nearly a decade.
"What an incredible hockey game," U.S. coach Mike Sullivan said.
It all unfolded against the backdrop of uneasy tensions between the North American neighbors and longtime allies, with many fans in the sellout crowd of 21,105 at Bell Centre loudly booing throughout the pregame rendition of the U.S. anthem. That spilled onto the ice as soon as the puck was dropped, with Matthew Tkachuk asking Brandon Hagel to drop the gloves and the fourth-line Canada winger engaging in the fight two seconds in.
Brother Brady Tkachuk did the same with Bennett the moment the puck was dropped on the ensuing faceoff three seconds in. Miller cross-checked Parayko and the two went at it to make it a trio of bouts in the early going.
The idea came from a group chat involving the Tkachuk brothers and Miller. Canada coach Jon Cooper called the first minute purely “mayhem.”
“It was, I guess, 10 years of no international hockey exhaled in a minute and a half,” Cooper said.
The old-school pugilism did not go great early for the U.S., with the Tkachuks in the penalty box for the first five minutes. McDavid accelerated around the top defensive pair of McAvoy and Zach Werenski and roofed a backhander over Hellebuyck that few goaltenders around would be able to stop.
But Canada's questions in net continued when Jake Guentzel beat Jordan Binnington five-hole midway through the first period to tie it. And the perpetually reliable captain Canada, Crosby, made a rare mistake with a turnover that, combined with a bad line change, paved the way for Larkin to score on a 2-on-1 past the midway mark of regulation.
“He’s not afraid to shoot it,” Brady Tkachuk said. “He’s got a great shot, and it ended up being the game-winner.”
Binnington around that play made some timely stops, and Canada — without top defenseman Cale Makar because of illness — had plenty of chances to tie it but could not get the puck past Hellebuyck again. Guentzel scored into an empty net with 1:19 left to seal it, and the result puts an all-world roster led by McDavid, Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon in a must-win situation Monday against Finland.
“It’s kind of like a Game 7," McDavid said. "A lot of guys in this room have been in that situation before. Got to get a win.”
The U.S. has nothing to play for against Sweden that night, but there is concern about Matthew Tkachuk after he did not finish the game because of what Sullivan called a lower-body injury.
“I feel good," Tkachuk said, brushing off the injury. "Definitely way better after a win. Should be all good.”
The tournament shifts to at TD Garden in Boston for games Monday, with Canada finishing round-robin play against Finland at 1 p.m. and the U.S. against Sweden at 8 p.m.
Go to or tune in for a fight and low and behold, a game breaks out. Who would have thunk it. Hockey isn't a sport I enjoy but, apparently some folks do. Regardless, congrats to the US Hockey Team.
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 02-18-2025).]
If I understand correctly, I hear this gives the USA a shot at winning the final four for the yearly season championship. In which we will play Canada again.
It all unfolded against the backdrop of uneasy tensions between the North American neighbors and longtime allies, with many fans in the sellout crowd of 21,105 at Bell Centre loudly booing throughout the pregame rendition of the U.S. anthem.
They showed they now and always have, hated America.
quote
Originally posted by maryjane:
TDS living rent free in some folk's head.....
For whatever reason, you fail (or simply don't want) to acknowledge the scorn that Donald Trump has brought upon himself... and to a lesser degree, the US.
There was no booing of the US national anthem in Canada prior to Trump opening his yap and taunting Canadians repeatedly with his "51st State" and "Governor" bullshit.
He was doing it again immediately prior to the final game.
And Trudeau, to his credit, basically told Trump to go eff himself after the win by Canada.
Is that all you've got? After years of being a level-headed, respected member of this forum, you're now sounding like the rest of the RWNJs in P&R. I don't know what's happened to you, but it's disappointing.
While living in the northern US, I discovered that those Canadian geese were considered a health hazard, it was open season when one or a flock was seen. Apparently they bring a lot of crap with them and leave poop everywhere besides being noisy. A shotgun blast would usually shut them up and they would fly off. So, as pretty as a flock may be while in flight, no one wants them to land.
You are correct. You have to win the games along the way in order to get to the really important one(s) at the end. Anyone that follows sports knows that. The Canadian and USA teams both had to win games against Sweden and Finland to even get TO the championship game, just as the Eagles and Chiefs had to win regular season and playoff games to get to the Superbowl. Anyone not filled with hate knows these things.
So, as pretty as a flock may be while in flight, no one wants them to land.
This may come as a surprise to you, but I totally agree. They take over the city parks here, and make a helluva mess pooping everywhere. They're great to see flying in formation, but there are way too many Canada Geese living (and breeding) in the city.
> Damn, we just had an earthquake while I was typing this. <
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 02-21-2025).]
This may come as a surprise to you, but I totally agree. They take over the city parks here, and make a helluva mess pooping everywhere. They're great to see flying in formation, but there are way too many Canada Geese living (and breeding) in the city.
> Damn, we just had an earthquake while I was typing this. <
Taking you at your word, if you felt the earth move, it may be because Hell is Freezing over. I thinking it'll be blamed on DJT.
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 02-21-2025).]
You have to win the games along the way in order to get to the really important one(s) at the end.
Oh, really? Canada lost to the US in the preliminaries, yet somehow still managed to end up in the championship game where they then beat the US... in the game that mattered.
A sign spotted at the game in Boston, home of the Tea Party...
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 02-21-2025).]
Well, I don't really give a damn about hockey, I'll readily admit it's not my game and have already congratulated the Canadian team on their win.
But I really don't see the point in bringing up political crap in TOT. Or, was that attempt to turn TOT into P&R? Still stirring the pot?
Funny guy.
I know you don't give a damn about hockey. The only reason you started this thread was to "stir the pot". It's not enough that Trump is taunting Canada, you just couldn't resist the urge to try and rub it in after the US beat Canada in a preliminary game. This thread was political from the get-go.
But hey, I'm glad you did start the thread. It worked out very well, very well indeed.
I know you don't give a damn about hockey. The only reason you started this thread was to "stir the pot". It's not enough that Trump is taunting Canada, you just couldn't resist the urge to try and rub it in after the US beat Canada in a preliminary game. This thread was political from the get-go.
But hey, I'm glad you did start the thread. It worked out very well, very well indeed.
Way off base there Patrick, read the post again, all I did was congratulate the US Hockey team. I had a pretty lengthy response typed up but, deleted it. I won't be trying to turn TOT into a P&R for your benefit.
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 02-21-2025).]
Originally posted by maryjane: You are correct. You have to win the games along the way in order to get to the really important one(s) at the end. Anyone that follows sports knows that.
quote
Originally posted by Patrick: Oh, really? Canada lost to the US in the preliminaries, yet somehow still managed to end up in the championship game where they then beat the US... in the game that mattered.
Every game that got Canada into the preliminaries mattered. Are you saying Canada is always in the preliminaries ?
Every game that got Canada into the preliminaries mattered.
Why do you keep beating this dead horse? The tournament was limited to four teams... Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland. Each team only played three games apiece to determine who played who in the final/championship game. If you wish to refer to those three games apiece as "preliminaries", fine... but the fact that Canada lost to the US in the "preliminaries" did not matter, as Canada then beat the US in the actual game that mattered... the final/championship game. Comprende?
Why do you keep beating this dead horse? The tournament was limited to four teams... Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland. [b]matter[/i], as Canada then beat the US in the actual game that mattered... the final/championship game. Comprende?
According to Patrick, the final game to determine the championship, does not matter.
Oh, really? Canada lost to the US in the preliminaries, yet somehow still managed to end up in the championship game where they then beat the US... in the game that mattered.
A sign spotted at the game in Boston, home of the Tea Party...
It's obvious that you don't have a clue what a round robin tournament is or how it works.
This is pretty funny... guys who know nothing about hockey, guys who know nothing about this particular tournament, trying to school me on the subject.
Topic Closed
Nah, just with sad sack Trump lackeys.
