Tkachuk Brothers Take Over 4 Nations, USA Wins 6-1

Day two of the one and only 4-Nations Face-off as Team USA took on Team Finland which involved a total of four New York Rangers, five with Chris Kreider in the press box as the extra forward for the Americans.

1st Period:

• It wasn’t long before this game turned physical as J.T. Miller went hard to the net and bumped into Nikolas Matinpalo on the way which prompted a spirited scrum to start. 

• A strong shift from the Americans nearly resulted in the first goal of the game as Jack Hughes redirected a shot from Jaccob Slavin at the point. During which, Joel Armia ended up taking the first penalty of the game as he was called for cross-checking. 
• Adam Fox quarterbacked another absolutely stacked top power play unit of Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Jake Guentel and Jack Eichel but the Finns were up to the task of killing the penalty and held them without a shot on goal. 
• Just two and a half minutes away from the midway mark of the first, we had our first goal of the outing. Of the countless super stars on both of these teams, who struck first? That’s right, Henri Jokiharju who has *checks notes* one goal on the season in Buffalo. An interesting rush as both of Finland’s defenders were leading the charge, Olli Maatta led the breakout through center as Jokiharju joined on the right wing side.  A drop back to Mikhail Granlund preceded a pass to Jokiharju who shot a rolling puck that may have taken a bounce of an opposing stick in front, 1-0 Finland. A cool moment for Jokiharju who similar to Urho Vaakanainen was a replacement on Team Finland as a result of a pair of injuries to the original roster.

• Matthews had the second post counter of the period for USA about two minutes later but it wasn’t long after that before USA properly tied the game. Brady Tkachuk banked a bouncing puck off of Jusse Saros that Niko Mikkola was almost able to get a stick on to keep out, tied game 1-1. 

• Finland would get their first crack at the power play soon after the Americans tied it as Noah Hanafin tripped up Patrik Laine in his own zone. An interesting note, Team Finland was running a five forward power play which is certainly a rarity. While the top unit wouldn’t get much done, the second unit generated a ton of chances but couldn’t convert. Hanifin nearly had a jack in the box goal coming out of the penalty box but Jusse Saros answered with a big save on the breakaway. 

• Not the dominant start many people were likely expecting from the U.S. as they looked a bit sloppy in all areas of the ice. Finland on the other hand was playing a very cohesive game, working hard in the corners and moving the puck as well as they were defending it. 

2nd Period: 

• Finland continued to build off their strengths to start the second as the Americans tried to find their game. Rangers defenseman Urho Vaakanainen was off to a good start as he was providing a steady presence on the back end, doing a great job of playing his simple yet effective game. 

• Just over seven minutes into the period, Ottawa’s Nikolas Matinpalo delivered a big hit on Jake Guentzel which resulted in the officials sending him off for boarding. The Finns continued to run a really effective penalty kill that stifled the Americans ability to convert. To put into perspective just how well Finland was defending, USA’s lone shot on goal during the power play was their first shot on goal for the period . 
• The intensity of this game continued as Niko Mikkola and Brady Tkachuk collided hard along the boards which caused a brief little dogpile in front of Team USA’s bench.

• An incredible breakout pass from Vaakanainen helped send Erik Haula on a quick breakaway with eight minutes to go, but the shot sailed just over the net after maybe catching a piece of Connor Hellebuyck’s stick. Great heads-up play by the Rangers defenseman. 

• While they wouldn’t start the tournament on the same line, it only took a period and a half for Mike Sullivan to put the Tkachuk brothers on the same line with Jack Eichel in the middle. That’s one heck of a second line. 
• With three minutes to go in the period, J.T. Miller’s line established good pressure in the offensive zone. Once Brock Faber got the puck at the point, he let a hard shot go that took a redirect off the stick of Matt Boldy to find the back of the net, taking their first lead of the night 2-1. 

• In the final seconds of the period, Olli Maatta was called for hooking Auston Matthews to give team USA a power play that would carry over into the final period of regulation. A big goal for Matt Boldy would be the difference maker helped build some momentum the Americans hadn't quite been able to establish up to this point in the game.

3rd Period: 

• Wasting no time to get going, it only took 15 seconds for the Americans to find the back of the net again as Matthew Tkachuk threw a shot from up at the point through some traffic that found its way past Saros to extend their lead 3-1.
• Just 11 seconds later, Auston Mattthews moved the puck ahead upon entering the zone which resulted in Jake Guentzel beating Saros short side with another quick shot to extend the lead again, now 4-1.

• The goals kept coming as just three minutes in, Jack Eichel sent the puck up to Brady Tkachuk who pressed hard to the net and cut to the back hand to beat Saros for his second of the night. In a matter of three minutes, this game went from 2-1 to 5-1. That Finnish defense that was dialed in all night was finally beginning to get exposed by the power house offense Team USA has.

• Penalties began to pick up from there as Adam Fox and Sebastian Aho were assessed coincidental roughing penalties just a minute after the second Tkachuk goal. Bit of history there between those two as Aho was responsible for that knee injury Fox suffered last season. Thirty seconds into the 4-on-4, Zach Werenski was called for tripping to make it a 4-on-3 for the Finns.
• Team USA did a good job of killing off the advantage with J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck playing a role on that side of special teams. Nearing the midway point of the period, the Americans were back to the power play with Joel Aria going off for roughing.
• Like brother, like brother. Brady had two so it was only fair for Matthew Tkachuk to pick up his second goal of the night. A shot from Zach Werenski who took over QB1 duties for Adam Fox as the game progressed, was deflected by Tkachuk who picked up the rebound to make it a 6-1 game.

• For more than half the game, Finland did a really great job of containing the Americans but as the game went on, USA began to find their game and it was only a matter of time for a team with that much high end talent to take charge. By the time the third period rolled around, they had totally flipped the switch and dominated the game.
• The Tkachuk brothers were without a doubt the biggest storyline to come out of this one. Four goals split between the two of them just an incredible showing for the brothers who finally get to play together in an international best-on-best tournament.
• As for the Rangers involved, Urho Vaakanainen had a great showing until the whole team collapsed in the third period. Adam Fox had a bit of a rough night. One shot on goal, one penalty, two giveaways and lost his spot on the top power play. Miller and Trocheck averaged about 13 minutes of ice time and delivered several big hits, Miller helped get the energy going early on with his tenacity and both were over 60% in face-offs.
• Parting stat:

The 4-Nations continue to Face-off this Saturday as USA will face Canada after Sweden and Finland play in the afternoon.