Three fights throughout the first 9 seconds of the matchup most likely wasn’t what U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan meant when he referred to as for “managed emotion” throughout his pre-game handle, however clearly his gamers had a message of their very own to ship within the early seconds of this long-awaited battle towards Canada.
Matthew Tkachuk stated earlier this week he’d waited 9 years for this hotly contested best-on-best contest between cross-border foes, and he wasn’t going to attend a second longer to re-ignite the rivalry. His tone-setting scrap off the opening faceoff laborious launched us all into one other version of Canada vs. USA, with brother Brady and teammate J.T. Miller following swimsuit with bouts of their very own earlier than the precise hockey started.
As soon as the sport really obtained underway, followers have been handled to a hard-checking, defence-heavy battle that noticed the Individuals come out on high 3-1, because of a masterful efficiency in their very own zone and opportunistic scoring. Connor McDavid was the lone goal-scorer for Canada, whereas Jake Guentzel, who opened and closed the scoring, and Dylan Larkin, whose second-period snipe served because the eventual game-winner, performed hero for the U.S.
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This sport was definitely worth the wait, and for Staff USA, the victory will probably be savoured — not simply because the nation has waited greater than a decade to greatest their neighbours to the north at this degree however as a result of it ensures the Individuals a spot in subsequent week’s championship sport.
Right here’s a better have a look at Staff USA’s profitable efficiency over Canada, and the way every participant fared within the victory.
Jack Eichel: 8/10
His elite playmaking on full show as soon as once more, the Golden Knights centreman served up an ideal cross on a silver platter for Jake Guentzel to get Staff USA on the board within the first body and tie up the sport 1-1. His chemistry with the Tkachuk brothers is actually enjoyable to look at.
Matthew Tkachuk: 8/10
As if this sport wanted any extra emotion injected into it, the top-line winger challenged Canada’s Brandon Hagel to a tone-setting scrap off the opening faceoff, igniting the gang and sparking the wildest game-opening sequence we’ve ever seen on this rivalry. Sadly, Tkachuk’s marketing campaign was reduce brief within the third interval with an undisclosed damage — however he made it clear post-game he wasn’t involved about it going ahead.
Brady Tkachuk: 9/10
Mike Sullivan referred to as the Tkachuk-Eichel-Tkachuk line “a catalyst for our staff,” and that couldn’t have been extra correct, contemplating how this matchup began. Seeing Matthew open up the sin bin door for his little brother after Brady exchanged blows with Sam Bennett seconds after his personal brawl was pure cinema, and Brady’s distinctive mixture of wrecking-ball-meets-finesse-forward was on full show towards Canada together with his team-leading six hits and trio of scoring possibilities.
Jake Guentzel: 9/10
Few coaches know Guentzel’s skillset higher than Sullivan, who stated post-game he’s not shocked to see the previous Penguins ahead thrive on the most important stage. After getting the Individuals on the board within the opening body to tie issues up 1-1 within the first interval, Guentzel — who’s taking part in in his first worldwide match at any degree — doubled down on his goal-scoring with an empty-netter that secured the Individuals the victory Saturday evening and assured the staff’s entry in subsequent week’s championship sport. Along with his pair of targets, he additionally led the staff in photographs, with 5.
Auston Matthews: 7/10
After seeing his fast chemistry with linemate Jack Hughes towards the Finns, it felt like Saturday is likely to be Matthews’ second to shine. However whereas the boos have been loud, the manufacturing was quiet — albeit, he didn’t precisely have a simple project, lining up towards Canada’s high combos. He was held with out a single shot on this one, however his sound defensive efforts and heavy minutes towards high powerful competitors (Matthews led all ahead in ice time) ought to earn him some reward.
Jack Hughes: 6/10
Held with out a level on a pair of photographs, Hughes didn’t have a lot room to generate offence towards Canada, and the bodily sport plan doesn’t precisely jive together with his model. It’ll be fascinating to see if he can jumpstart a little bit offence towards the Swedes on Monday evening.
J.T. Miller: 8/10
For the second straight sport, Miller discovered himself beginning up a net-front scuffle following USA’s first journey to the offensive zone (a creature of behavior, and havoc, it appears), however everyone knows he’s far more than an agitator. His lockdown penalty killing got here up clutch just a few occasions — on one event, he took away Brayden Level’s stick to maintain him from capitalizing on a juicy rebound — and his robust play earned him a promotion to the highest line within the third interval after Matthew Tkachuk was sidelined.
Dylan Larkin: 9/10
After taking part in simply 11:14 as a fourth-line winger towards the Finns, Larkin centred Staff USA’s third line on Saturday evening and introduced a spark — to not point out, some net-front grit we’re not used to seeing from the Crimson Wings captain. Along with muddying up Binnington’s kitchen early and infrequently in an try and throw the Canadian netminder off his sport, Larkin scored what turned out to be the game-winning purpose on an ideal snap shot after rushing down the wing. He additionally dished up a well-placed cross to Jake Guentzel, who put one at the back of Canada’s empty web late within the third.
Matthew Boldy: 7.5/10
Boldy’s having himself an ideal match thus far. He pounced on the turnover that led to Larkin’s game-winner within the second interval, on which he earned an help.
Kyle Connor: 6.5/10
Connor was demoted from the primary line in USA’s tournament-opening sport to the fourth of their second, and he didn’t see a lot ice time on this one. He performed a team-low 8:32 with simply 12 shifts, however nonetheless made an impression with 4 hits — second within the class amongst all USA forwards.
Vincent Trocheck: 7/10
With simply over 10 minutes of ice time Saturday evening, Trocheck’s sport didn’t have a whole lot of time to shine, however his robust defensive expertise got here up massive on this one. Canada was given little or no house, and that tight-checking, high-forecheck sport plan is one Trocheck has owned effectively.
Brock Nelson: 7/10
On a star-studded roster with a lot offensive talent, Nelson’s sport will get overshadowed, contemplating his position. However he performs it actually successfully, unafraid to get into puck battles and grind it out alongside the boards — and considered one of these occasions, it appears like he’ll capitalize on an offensive-zone steal.
Zach Werenski: 8/10
Werenski had a helper on Guentzel’s first-period purpose, however whereas his offensive prowess was what stood out most towards the Finns Thursday evening, Saturday showcased his clean skating and shutdown potential. Werenski gave his opponents no house to play, foiling a few of the sport’s greatest scorers.
Charlie McAvoy: 9/10
McAvoy couldn’t take the puck off McDavid’s stick as No. 97 got here barrelling into the U.S. zone and fired the puck previous Hellebuyck to open the scoring early within the first interval, however he placed on a masterclass when it got here to taking the participant off the puck. The Bruin showcased his physicality on this one with 5 hits, headlined by an early clobbering of Crosby within the opening minutes and a textbook takeout of McDavid later within the body, which sparked Guentzel’s purpose on the following rush.
Jaccob Slavin: 10/10
When the success of your sport is measured in what number of performs don’t occur, it may be laborious to acknowledge and admire simply how nice a efficiency Slavin had. However give Slavin his flowers, as a result of he was excellent on this one. He performed a whopping 25:36 — a team-high — and gave up only a few alternatives, locking down the defensive zone and boxing out a few of the sport’s greatest goal-scorers all evening. A masterclass.
Brock Faber: 9/10
Paired with Slavin — and taking part in simply as many minutes as his D-partner — was a chance Faber deserved after his robust play Thursday evening, and he greater than rose to the chance. His shutdown talents have been on full show, significantly in penalty-kill conditions. His clutch zone-clearing late within the third helped tee up Guentzel’s empty-netter.
Adam Fox: 7/10
Fox performed the fewest minutes of all U.S. rearguards Saturday evening, and customarily hasn’t stood out — for higher or for worse — on this match thus far. We’re used to seeing Fox contribute a little bit extra offensively, however he understood his position and performed accordingly as a part of a defensive unit that emphasised shutdowns over breakouts.
Noah Hanifin: 9/10
Hanifin wasn’t his greatest Thursday evening, and made up for it in an enormous approach on Saturday’s massive stage. He was extraordinarily efficient at clogging up and locking down the U.S. zone, his greatest play coming when he busted up a two-on-one towards McDavid and Sam Reinhart.
Connor Hellebuyck: 9/10
Put one other digit within the win column for Hellebuyck, whose worldwide document now reads 11-1-0, with an unbelievable 1.50 goals-against common and .942 save share total. His second straight sport giving up only a single purpose, Hellebuyck was not solely a gradual presence behind an elite group of defenders however a momentum-swinger, too — he made a flurry of three saves earlier than Larkin broke free on an odd-man rush to go up 2-1 within the second interval. Hellebuyck made certain that lead was locked in.
