Goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck and Team USA will face Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off finale at 8 p.m. EST Thursday in Boston. Photo by Armando Babani/EPA
Feb. 20 (UPI) — American and Canadian players expect even more emotion and physicality than their first meeting when they clash for a second time in Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off finale in Boston.
The high-profile matchup in the inaugural tournament will pit Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews and many of the world’s other best hockey players against each other for frozen floor bragging rights. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. EST at TD Garden. The rivalry matchup will air on ESPN.
“I don’t think there are any secrets out there,” Team USA coach Mike Sullivan told reporters Wednesday. “In my mind, it’s two really good teams that are going to compete extremely hard and do everything they can to win. How good is that for hockey? It’s an unbelievable celebration for hockey.
“The pace of play will be as fast paced as what you saw in the first game. Both teams will be emotionally invested. There will be physicality to the game. For me, it’s everything that’s good about hockey.”
Canada may have a better top-to-bottom roster, but the Americans’ edge in goal with Connor Hellebuyck could play a significant role in determining the outcome.
The Americans, who beat the Canadians 3-1 in the round-robin stage of the tournament, are slight favorites to win the title. Players and coaches plan on another another intensely physical matchup.
“It feels bigger than that,” Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk said. “It’s going to be an incredible environment. The lead-up and build-up and everything that’s come with it has been incredible and something we don’t take for granted.”
Political commentary has surrounded the teams throughout the tournament, especially after President Donald Trump made several references to Canada as a “51st state.” Trump called Team USA on Thursday morning to offer his support.
“Other than the talk of the 51st state, and somebody saying we’d have one hell of a hockey team, but let’s be honest, you’d never get what’s going to be contested tonight,” Canada coach Jon Cooper said.
Canada has a 14-5-1 record against Team USA in best-on-best matchups.
#USA #Canada #expect #physicality #emotion #Nations #FaceOff #finale
Leave a Reply