3 takeaways as U.S. sends message by thrashing Finland
The United States surged to first place in the 4 Nations Face-Off standings by routing Finland 6-1 in its tournament opener. Here are three observations about Thursday night's American victory.
Tkachuk connection jolts U.S.
During Thursday's first period, the Sportsnet broadcast aired a pregame clip of U.S. coach Mike Sullivan urging his players to start fast and exhibit "American swagger."
"Swagger" is the sum of the speed, skill, sniping, and sandpaper that should make Sullivan's team riveting to watch and a complete pain to defend. The Americans played to their identity for a few minutes, forechecking doggedly to shake the glass with hits. Then they started losing puck battles, dithering on the power play, passing up open shots, and ringing the crossbar as Finland took a stunning lead.
They overcame the choppy start and Finland's tenacious checking by flocking to the blue paint. Three of the four goals by Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, along with Matt Boldy's deft tip, were scored within a few feet of Juuse Saros' net. Defensemen Brock Faber and Zach Werenski sifted point shots through bodies to help facilitate the barrage.
The U.S. finally pressed its talent advantage and turned a squeaker into a cakewalk when Brady joined his older brother and Jack Eichel on the top line. Riding shotgun with Stanley Cup winners, the Senators captain made a loud impact with five shots and eight hits. Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes nurtured their own connection on the second line, looking dynamic and slippery together while combining to feed Jake Guentzel for the goal that opened the floodgates.
Booed lustily in Montreal, the Americans set up a heavyweight slugfest and mouthwatering stylistic clash with the home team. The Tkachuks will unite again Saturday night to lead the charge. They'll aim to own the grimy areas and combat the breakneck pace of Canada's young star forwards, which paired perfectly with Sidney Crosby's playmaking genius in the Canada-Sweden overtime classic.
Hellebuyck makes a difference
Quebec used to be a goaltender factory, but some of this competition's most imposing goalies hail from Michigan (U.S. starter Connor Hellebuyck), Minnesota (backup Jake Oettinger), and Alaska (third-stringer Jeremy Swayman). Hellebuyck, the Jets superstar who's pursuing a third Vezina Trophy, is favored to win every duel he enters.
His 20-save effort wasn't a masterpiece, but Hellebuyck stoned hot shots as a potential upset brewed. He denied Patrik Laine's one-timer early in the second period when the Finnish cycle game was humming. The score remained tied when he stopped Anton Lundell's partial break and grazed Erik Haula's full-fledged breakaway attempt with his right arm.
Finland's powerful forwards, led by Aleksander Barkov and Mikko Rantanen, can rag the puck and may be able to wear down the rival Swedes on Saturday afternoon. They didn't rattle Hellebuyck, who shook off a weak goal and bought time for the U.S. to solve Saros after he gamely held the fort for almost 40 minutes.
If the 4 Nations was simulated 1,000 times, Hellebuyck would probably backstop the U.S. to the most triumphs. The real thing is a one-off, and even the underdog Finns have the firepower to ride a shooting streak to glory. Thursday's result showed it's smart to trust the guy with a .925 NHL save percentage and a decade-long track record of dominance.
Finnish D gets exposed
Barkov's deployment as the quarterback of a five-forward power-play unit emphasized the obvious: With Miro Heiskanen injured, Finland's defensemen are outmanned in this elite setting.
The ragtag group of bland veterans and fringe NHLers will spend the tournament in survival mode. Players like Henri Jokiharju and Olli Maatta want to clog lanes, minimize the glorious chances fired at Saros, and avoid appearing in highlights. Two elements of D-zone play - rush defense and breakouts - will pose challenges.
On Finland's goal, Maatta retrieved a dump-in, joined the rush, and supplied a screen as Jokiharju snuck a wobbling shot under Hellebuyck's stick. But the Americans promptly scored off a failed clearance. They stole pucks in the neutral zone and used pretty passing to twist the other Finnish defensive pairs into knots when Guentzel and Brady Tkachuk struck quick in the third frame.
Maatta and Niko Mikkola own Stanley Cup rings, and Esa Lindell has major playoff experience, but no Finnish blue-liner is used to shouldering the hardest minutes. Every 4 Nations shift is intense. Sheltered matchups don't exist. The scoring flurry that buried Finland hammered that home.
Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.