Team Canada is set to play their second game in the Four Nations Faceoff tournament against their long-time rivals south of the border. Canada and the USA will meet tonight in a best-on-best hockey game for the first time since the 2014 Olympics (not including the 2016 World Cup of Hockey).
Canada is coming off a 4-3 win over Sweden. In that game, Canada looked dominant before surrendering a two-goal lead in the third period. Mitch Marner went on to play hero, scoring the overtime winner and taking the roof off of the Bell Centre in the process.
On the other side of the ice, the Americans come into this monumental matchup confident. After giving up the first goal to Finland, Team USA settled in, scoring six unanswered goals, four of which came in the third period. Matthew and Brady Tkachuk were the story in this one. The brothers combined for five points while playing together as linemates.
If Canada wants to beat the favored Americans in this matchup, a few things must improve from their win over Sweden, and they will need to find ways to shut down the ever-impressive Tkachuk line.
Shutting Down the Tkachuk Line
Brady Tkachuk scored twice for Team USA, which dominated Finland. Matthew Tkachuk scored twice as that top line, centered by Jack Eichel, who had two assists, led the Americans, dictating the game’s pace all night. The first line combined for seven total points against Finland, and now the Canadians must find a way to contain the trio if they want to stand any chance in this battle of elite teams.
How can the Canadians stop the Americans’ top line? The answer might be physicality. The Tkachuk brothers set the tone against the Fins, dropping multiple earth-shattering hits as soon as the puck dropped, making their presence known, and, eventually, wearing their opponents down. The Canadians must be physical right from the drop of the puck. Guys like Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Colton Parayko, just to name a few, need to match the energy of the Americans physically. That won’t be enough to completely shut down the American trio, but it could be a main factor in slowing them down.
Jordan Binnington Bounceback
Coach Jon Cooper announced that Jordan Binnington would get the net tonight following the team’s win in their first game. However, Binnington’s performance was criticized, with some fans believing Adin Hill or Sam Montembeault should get the start against the USA. Binnington allowed three goals on 26 shots, which are not terrible numbers. Was the netminder unfairly criticized? Cooper seemed to think so and will now give Binnington another shot to prove his worth in this must win matchup.
Cooper said he decided to stay with the St. Louis Blues goaltender because of his stellar performance in the overtime period against Sweden. Cooper clearly believes Binnington gave the offence a chance to win the game in overtime while proving he should be Hockey Canada’s goaltender when they meet with their rivals.
If Binnington can improve his game and avoid allowing weak goals like he did against Sweden, Canada’s chances of winning will improve drastically. A bounce-back game from the goaltender would do wonders for not only the team but also his confidence in the net for his country.
Opportunity of a Lifetime
For many of these players, representing the Hockey Canada uniform on the ice is the greatest of achievements. An achievement that could be even better? Beating the Americans on the biggest stage. The chance is right there in front of them, and for Team Canada, having this game take place at the Bell Centre, with an entire nation behind them, is a huge advantage. If The Canadians can find a way to stop the Tkachuk brothers from wreaking havoc with Eichel, an elite playmaker, centering them, a huge win for an entire nation could become possible. If Binnington can improve his play and shut the door, Canada’s offence will have ample opportunities to take control of the game.
The game plan is set, and Team Canada knows exactly what they must do. All that is left now is to execute it for not only their teammates but also, the entire nation standing behind them.