4 Nations Face Off - Feb 12-20

[Patrik26]

I’ll admit I didn’t like the idea of the tournament but man I was wrong last night was exactly what USA hockey needed. The fights at the start set the tone if you want to grow the game which everyone says then last night is exactly how you do it. Just hope Canada can make it to Thursday on home ice I think USA will trounce them.

I hope you're right on this, but the possibility of Matthew Tkachuk being out and Makar back in for Canada could be a problem for the US.

 

[Bleedred]

Said the only guy in the country last night

Great game

Didn’t care for that many fights before puck drop though.

I hope you're right on this, but the possibility of Matthew Tkachuk being out and Makar back in for Canada could be a problem for the US.

Canada will also have to switch goalies unless they just blow the Americans out.

Binnington was their worst player in both games.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I would kill to have a player like one of the Tkachuks

Timo Meier does lots of stuff that Brady does but gets pooped on. 9 goals 16 assists at 5 on 5 for Timo vs 7 goals 12 assists.

Brady is a bit more abrasive but what Timo has done has resulted in 36 goals for and 18 against (vs Brady’s 28 GF 32 GA).

This has been a Timo Meier appreciation post. He is large and he is good.

 

[Lou is God]

The fact that Team USA's song is from my favorite band makes this so f***ing awesome

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Boston and class don't go together. I think philly fans would be far more likely to be classy actually.

Well, then it should be interesting on Thursday.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I would kill to have a player like one of the Tkachuks

I’d send them Bratt and Nemec and both the Sens and the Panthers wouldn’t make that deal.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Canada blew it not taking Tom Wilson. He should be there. Mathew would be at his turtling best if wilson was involved.
Maybe jarvis and konecny get sick on tuesday and wilson rolls in for the final

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I’d send them Bratt and Nemec and both the Sens and the Panthers wouldn’t make that deal.

Jesper Bratt is way better at hockey than Brady Tkachuk, so it’s good that they wouldn’t do that.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Jesper Bratt is way better at hockey than Brady Tkachuk, so it’s good that they wouldn’t do that.

If you are a contending playoff team brady>bratt . Not even close

 

[bigd]

Jack’s line had to play a cautious game. Canada hard matched McDavid against them and they got burnt early against him. After that it was all make sure you stay above the puck with him out there. You can’t get into a track meet game in the matchup.

USA will have last change on Thursday as they are assured to be top seed. Probably will be able to get that line into better matchups.

Jack looked scared every time he touched the puck. He got rid of it quickly and aimlessly threw it out to no one.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

If you are a contending playoff team brady>bratt . Not even close

Brady has played zero (0) playoff games in his career and is getting outscored on a team that is in playoff position.

Bratt is better at the game of hockey.

 

[Camille the Eel]

I am joining the @Bleedred dissent as to the brawling at the opening puck drop.

Clearly there’s entertainment value in fist fighting and violence but to me it was embarrassing, degrading of the game, and emblematic of the worst aspect of the NHL game, going beyond any proper expression of national emotions in international competition. Was the head hunting involved in Doughty trying to line up Jack necessary for our entertainment? It’s a relief he wasn’t hurt. Shea Theodore may have broken his wrist in a hit along the boards the prior game.

That kind of brawling would probably have gotten guys ejected in Olympic competition and rightly so. It’s an appeal to the lowest common denominator. This wasn’t emotions spilling over due to a bang bang play. It was just making statements at the outset. The game hadn’t even begun. Hit within the rules when the play dictates it and limit it to that.

I know I’m in an absolute minority here. People love this stuff. It’s part of the NHL brand I guess.

That US and Canadian hockey players should apparently hate each other so much once they put on these uniforms troubles me. These are often team mates. What happens when they put on these jerseys ? As a New Englander I’ve always felt common cause with people from Quebec and the maritimes. We have as much in common with each other or even more as I do with my American neighbors.

Tkachuck’s comment that people from Montreal were not his favorites did not resonate with me.

I’ll take my lumps for this minority view.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Yeah, I know the antigrit police will be out if I do much as consider the thought, but: I'm worried about Jack Bratt and Nico in a long playoff run. McDavid got rocked, but he and MacKinnon and Matthews and the Tkachuks look built for this shit. Idk how much time he'd need in the weight room but Jack should be hitting the protein shakes.

I can't remember the last time someone caught Bratt clean, he does a tremendous job of avoiding contact better than Jack/Nico. Jack got caught yesterday by Harley that could've been way worse if Harley wanted to do something. It's just the nature of his game to play like that. Nico is literally the paper skin/glass bones cartoon from SpongeBob, he gets hurt on the dumbest shit I've ever seen in my life as a hockey fan lol

 

[Saugus]

I retract my previous statements. That 3rd period was bust. I don't regret the drugs tho

This reads like a dril tweet and I absolutely love it.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

If you are a contending playoff team brady>bratt . Not even close

Nope, Bratt is the better hockey player.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Tkachuck’s comment that people from Montreal were not his favorites did not resonate with me.

Where did he say this?

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Too bad the final isn’t in Philly. Like to see how they feel about being disrespected. Not the players but the fans. The booing was unnecessary and it wasn’t all the fans but there were at least half of them. Let’s hope Boston shows class, although I’m a little offended. But what does it matter what I think anyway.

Why should the booing matter? American fans will do it to them on Monday during the Finnish game + on Thursday if the US plays them in the final. It also doesn't help the current political climate probably doesn't help with this nationalist stuff also

 

[StevenToddIves]

Jack looked scared every time he touched the puck. He got rid of it quickly and aimlessly threw it out to no one.

Weird take, considering Jack Hughes had a very good game. Forced several turnovers and only turned the puck over once, created a two-on-one down low out of nothing where Guentzel fanned on his perfect pass, did very well creating multiple extended pressure shifts in the O zone. The McDavid goal had nothing to do with the forward line, it was simply the best player in the world beating McAvoy one-on-one. I'd like to see Jack shoot more, I think he's overextending a bit to create for Matthews and Guentzel.

 

[HoliksGhost]

Erika on NHL Network

 

[StevenToddIves]

I have to say, last night has an argument for the best "all-star game" ever played on North American soil. Just incredible to watch. I can't wait for the final, might even head on up to Boston for it.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Where did he say this?

Would have to look - I watched post game comments on ESPN.com and also read a summary there. My only source so it had to be there.

 

[Clam Jensen]

jacks like did have the unenviable task of going against McDavid, but he did cause a ton of breakups due to good back checking

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Weird take, considering Jack Hughes had a very good game. Forced several turnovers and only turned the puck over once, created a two-on-one down low out of nothing where Guentzel fanned on his perfect pass, did very well creating multiple extended pressure shifts in the O zone. The McDavid goal had nothing to do with the forward line, it was simply the best player in the world beating McAvoy one-on-one. I'd like to see Jack shoot more, I think he's overextending a bit to create for Matthews and Guentzel.

Yeah I don’t get the takes about him “playing scared” or getting exposed or whatever. It was a very tight checking low event game after the US had the lead.

Being on PP2 (which got 0 time last game) is going to cut down on how many dangerous looks he’ll get with the way these game are being played. Notice how you didn’t hear MacKinnon’s name much either? Slavin was absolutely neutralizing guys, he’s so good.

 

[devilsblood]

I’ll admit I didn’t like the idea of the tournament but man I was wrong last night was exactly what USA hockey needed. The fights at the start set the tone if you want to grow the game which everyone says then last night is exactly how you do it. Just hope Canada can make it to Thursday on home ice I think USA will trounce them.

The fights last night were a great start to the premier matchup of this tourney.

And the Canadian PP goal to start the tourney was an amazing start to this whole thing.

The beginnings of these games could not have been better.

 

[Lou is God]

Weird take, considering Jack Hughes had a very good game. Forced several turnovers and only turned the puck over once, created a two-on-one down low out of nothing where Guentzel fanned on his perfect pass, did very well creating multiple extended pressure shifts in the O zone. The McDavid goal had nothing to do with the forward line, it was simply the best player in the world beating McAvoy one-on-one. I'd like to see Jack shoot more, I think he's overextending a bit to create for Matthews and Guentzel.

I saw the exact same thing you saw.