It’s been a long (long) time since I looked forward to watching a hockey game the way I did last night’s 4 Nations finale pitting the United States against Canada. The emotional build-up, including the stirring renditions of O Canada and especially The Star-Spangled Banner, impeccably performed by Isabel Leonard, was simply electric. I couldn’t wait for the opening faceoff.
The game didn’t disappoint. Well maybe a little. No offense to our good neighbors to the north, but I would’ve preferred a United States victory.
It looked like we might get one, too, when Jake Sanderson scored off a scramble around Canada’s net at 7:32 of the second period to make it 2-1 USA.
However, Sam Bennett—Canada’s version of the Tkachuk brothers—struck just under seven minutes later to knot the score at 2-all.
Following a scoreless third period, Mitch Marner drew the attention of three U.S. defenders eight minutes into overtime and wired a pass to Connor McDavid, all alone in the slot. The Oilers’ superstar ripped a rising wrister past Connor Hellebuyck’s outstretched glove for the OT and tourney winner. Perhaps signifying a passing of his country’s torch from Sidney Crosby, who gamely played through an injury, to McDavid and Sid’s fellow Nova Scotian Nathan MacKinnon, who tallied the game-opening goal and finished with four overall to grab tournament MVP honors.
On the United States side, Brady Tkachuk was once again a F-O-R-C-E. The battering-ram forward barged into the slot to put the finishing touches on Auston Matthews’ wraparound attempt for our first goal (and Brady’s third of the series) and delivered five booming hits, nearly all of the seismic variety. Including one which saw him absolutely mash poor Drew Doughty into the end boards.
Too bad brother Matthew Tkachuk, hobbled by a rumored groin injury, only skated 6:47. As a rule, two Tkachuks are even better than one.
Although he didn’t score, ex-Pen Jake Guentzel was all over the ice while playing a big-man’s game in a small-man’s body. Surprisingly feisty and aggressive, he equaled Brady Tkachuk’s hit total and fired three shots on goal, including some of Team USA’s best chances.
So much for any lingering notion that Jake is/was a Crosby creation. He’s a heckuva player in his own right.
Color analyst Ray Ferraro labelled USA defenseman Jaccob Slavin an “eraser.” I doubt if there’s ever been a more apt description of the ‘Canes stalwart. Slavin blocked three shots and thwarted virtually every Team Canada opportunity he faced while logging 28:32 of error-free defense.
My goodness, what a player.
At the opposite end of the ice, Canada’s much-maligned goalie Jordan Binnington made several stunning game-saving stops in overtime, two on absolute bullets off the stick blade of Matthews and another on Brady Tkachuk, to set the stage for McDavid’s winner.
In the end, roster construction may have played a part in the outcome. To my admittedly untrained eye, several of the United States depth players (Brock Nelson, Chris Kreider and Pittsburgh-native Vincent Trocheck come to mind) seemed in over their heads. Jack Hughes, fast and undeniably skilled as he is, was ineffective on a big stage.
Give me a Tkachuk or a Bennett over a Hughes-type water bug any day.
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Rick
Great game, and it easily could’ve been the USA lifting the trophy. The saves Binnington
made in overtime were almost supernatural—like "WOW" moments. I looked at my wife
after those saves and said, "The USA is in trouble." Those were game-changing,
momentum-shifting stops. Binnington stepped up huge when his team needed him most.