Breaking down USA-Canada matchups, plus a…
MONTREAL — Matthew Tkachuk put it best in his postgame interview with Sportsnet on Thursday evening, when the Panthers star stated he’s been ready for Saturday’s match in opposition to Canada “for nine years.”
So has the remaining of the hockey world.
There is more than simply a big-game really feel for the renewal of hostilities between the U.S. and Canada on Bell Centre ice in prime time on Saturday. There is a Game 7 really feel, a Stanley Cup really feel, an event-of-the-year really feel.
Nothing is greater than Team USA and Canada in a best-on-best match, and it’s been practically a decade since we final noticed it.
The Post’s Ethan Sears breaks down the matchups.
Goaltending
Canada coach Jon Cooper declined to call his starter on Friday, saying he had but to tell the goalies. There was no need to ask Team USA’s Mike Sullivan the identical query.
The nature of a best-on-best match is such that each participant on the ice is succesful. But whether or not Cooper goes with Jordan Binnington for a second straight recreation or turns to Adin Hill, Team USA has the higher hand in nets with two-time Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck.
Edge: Team USA
Connor Hellebuyck retains his eyes on a second period shot by Mikko Rantanen during Team USA’s 6-1 win over Finland on Feb. 13, 2025. Getty Images
Defense
Neither staff’s blue line appears to be like the identical as envisioned previous to the match. Team USA is with out Quinn Hughes, who pulled out late because of harm, and switched its pairs halfway by way of Thursday’s win over Finland, transferring Adam Fox alongside Noah Hanifin and Jaccob Slavin with Brock Faber.
Canada, although, is close to an out-and-out disaster after Shea Theodore suffered a tournament-ending harm in its win over Sweden and prime D-man Cale Makar missed Friday’s follow with sickness. Cooper stated he was assured Makar would play Saturday, however Thomas Harley — who didn’t make the unique roster and thus is just not allowed to follow or skate with the staff — is on standby to affix in case Canada goes down to 5 defensemen. Travis Sanheim will attract for Theodore.
Edge: Team USA
United States gamers Matt Boldy (12), Brady Tkachuk(7), Noah Hanifin (15) and Adam Fox (23) encompass the web during a follow earlier than the beginning of the 4 Nations Face-Off match in Montreal. Getty Images
Forwards
Putting Brady and Matthew Tkachuk on both aspect of Jack Eichel was an impressed — and probably game-saving — selection from Sullivan on Thursday, however that being arguably Team USA’s best trio underscores the stylistic conflict right here.
Canada has a clear and apparent benefit in phrases of ability, with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid making up half its prime six, whereas the Americans will attempt to play a more bodily recreation. That’s to not say Team USA doesn’t have ability or Team Canada can’t deal with physicality — that is best-on-best and everybody can do every part — simply that there’s a distinction in how every staff will attempt to set the tone.
Mark Stone (middle) celebrates with Nathan MacKinnon (left) and Sidney Crosby after scoring a second period objective in Canada’s 4-3 time beyond regulation win over Sweden within the first recreation of the 4 Nations Face-Off match on Feb. 12, 2025. Getty Images
It’s onerous to take a look at these ahead teams, and how they performed in every staff’s respective opener, and never conclude Canada has an benefit, nonetheless slight. The top-end expertise is nearly as good because it will get, and albeit confirmed up to a larger degree in opposition to Sweden than the Jake Guentzel, Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes line did in opposition to Finland.
Edge: Team Canada
Special Teams
If there’s a clear and apparent benefit for Team USA in phrases of goaltending, then that is Canada’s reply.
The Canadian prime power-play unit of Makar, Crosby, McDavid, MacKinnon and Sam Reinhart is laughably gifted and proved it could actually translate to the ice by scoring nearly instantly on Canada’s solely energy play of the sport in opposition to Sweden. The predominant query there may be whether or not any referee will give Canada a call given the kind of benefit their energy play has.
Sam Reinhart (left) and Erik Karlsson battle for the puck during the primary period of Canada’s OT win over Sweden. AP
As for Team USA, Matthew Tkachuk scored a pair of power-play objectives in opposition to Finland, however one was a harmless-looking shot that Juuse Saros ought to have stopped and the opposite was in rubbish time. There have been moments over 5:18 of power-play time the place the models struggled to get set up, and whereas Sullivan can deploy two closely gifted teams on the person benefit, neither compares to what Canada has.
Edge: Team Canada
Coaching
Sullivan has two Stanley Cup titles, and so does Cooper. Both have one assistant coach who’s gained a Cup (John Tortorella for the U.S., Bruce Cassidy for Canada) and staffs filled with acquainted names. Picking one over the opposite right here is foolish.
Edge: Even
Prediction
Canada’s top-end expertise and the home crowd give them a tightly fought win.
Canada 4, USA 2
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