MONTREAL — Dylan Larkin scored the go-ahead purpose within the second interval and the US beat Canada 3-1 within the 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday evening, wrapping up a spot within the championship recreation by profitable a recreation that began with three fights in 9 seconds and was performed at a blistering tempo with physicality all through.
In South Florida, the end result was marred by an obvious third-period damage to Panthers standout Matthew Tkachuk, although there have been no particulars on the damage as of Saturday evening. Tkachuk skated round a number of instances within the third to check out no matter was bothering him however sat on the finish of the bench for the remainder of the interval.
Essentially the most anticipated recreation of round-robin play didn’t disappoint, from the fisticuffs off the opening faceoff to huge hits from Charlie McAvoy on Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid and quite a lot of very important saves by Connor Hellebuyck amongst his 24. And the U.S. confirmed it might sustain with Canada’s pace, ability and expertise within the first worldwide occasion with the NHL’s greatest gamers in practically a decade.
All of it unfolded towards the backdrop of uneasy tensions between the North American neighbors and longtime allies, with many followers within the sellout crowd of 21,105 at Bell Centre loudly booing all through the pregame rendition of the U.S. anthem. That spilled onto the ice as quickly because the puck was dropped, with Tkachuk asking Brandon Hagel to drop the gloves and the fourth-line Canada winger partaking within the struggle two seconds in.
Brother Brady Tkachuk did the identical with Sam Bennett the second the puck was dropped on the following faceoff three seconds in. U.S. heart J.T. Miller cross-checked Canada defenseman Colton Parayko and the 2 went at it to make it a trio of bouts within the early going.
The old-school pugilism didn’t go nice early for the U.S., with the Tkachuks within the penalty field for the primary 5 minutes. McDavid accelerated across the prime defensive pair of McAvoy and Zach Werenski and roofed a backhander over Hellebuyck that few goaltenders round would be capable of cease.
However Canada’s questions in internet continued when Jake Guentzel beat Jordan Binnington five-hole halfway by way of the primary interval to tie it. And the perpetually dependable Canadian captain Crosby made a uncommon mistake with a turnover that, mixed with a nasty line change, paved the best way for Larkin to attain on a 2-on-1 previous the halfway mark of regulation.
Binnington round that play made some well timed stops, and Canada — with out prime defenseman Cale Makar due to sickness — had loads of probabilities to tie it however couldn’t get the puck previous Hellebuyck once more. Guentzel scored into an empty internet with 1:19 left to seal it, and the end result places an all-world roster led by McDavid, Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon in a must-win state of affairs Monday towards Finland.
The U.S. has nothing to play for towards Sweden Monday evening, with the championship recreation to be performed on Thursday.
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