Did Matthew Tkachuk's selfishness cost team USA?

[centipede2233]

It was an icing….

Oops didn’t know, in any event, Hughes and fox shouldn’t have been on the ice at the same time regardless

 

[FerrisRox]

Auston Matthews has more compete and tenacity in his baby finger than the entire Tkachuk family.

If that's true, Auston Matthews must have lost his baby fingers on both hands in some sort of accident.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Why wasn't Clayton Keller not on this team? Somebody, please explain...

Because he doesn’t look like somebody that could get into the salty spitoon

 

[MOGlLNY]

Got to love the charts. No goals from a goal scorer and lost his man (McDavid for crying out loud) on the game-winning goal but he was somehow the USA'S best player.

When charts say one thing but the results say another the data is flawed. GIGO.

The results were McDavid was dead silent all night who was his matchup until Matthews had to leave his positioning to cover for Fox’s man he chased behind the net. Hughes or Fox should’ve recognized this instead of puck watching. Also was just a great pass by Marner truly.

He also had 2 primary assists on the only 2 goals.. I get Matthews is the easy target because of the past but good lord people if you actually watched the game last night and think Matthews was the problem I don’t know why I’d even bother discussing hockey on this forum because you people don’t know what you’re looking at critically.

As a Sabres fan who can’t stand the Leafs or their fans, what are we doing here? Are we watching the games or pushing narratives for likes? Jesus.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Idk why ppl harping on Matthews. He had 2 assists tonight and was a big reason why they even made it to OT lol

You know why

 

[FinlandPanther]

Uh no, he didn’t. All good though - I respect that not everybody can see the game properly.

Lmao. Who was Matthews defending? Casper the ghost? You can blame Fox all you want but Marner wasn’t a threat at all to come to the net and Matthews started covering the air instead of the best player on the planet. Learn some hockey.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Lmao. Who was Matthews defending? Casper the ghost?

You’re mad because one of your players got called out and are deflecting. It’s ok.

 

[TheDizee]

Idk why ppl harping on Matthews. He had 2 assists tonight and was a big reason why they even made it to OT lol

Matthews had a great game....until OT. Then he turned back into a Maple Leaf pumpkin.

Hopefully he stays off the ice in 26 for any meaningful minutes like in OT.

 

[StlBigFly]

Really was thinking about this when the broadcast was talking about things in the first period.

Was extremely selfish for him to go if he couldn’t get through 2 shifts.

The game isn’t about the name on the back, it’s about the team, and Matt Tkachuk hurt his team, plain and simple.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Kreider was injured as well. Maybe they couldn't call up a new player?

He wasnt injured. He just sucks now. We have been dealing with his garbage play all season in NY.

 

[FinlandPanther]

You’re mad because one of your players got called out and are deflecting. It’s ok.

Why would I be mad? He’s injured and won a cup for my team lmao. I don’t even cheer for USA lmao. You just deflected Matthews onto Tkachuk because you couldn’t handle any hockey knowledge.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Lmao. Who was Matthews defending? Casper the ghost? You can blame Fox all you want but Marner wasn’t a threat at all to come to the net and Matthews started covering the air instead of the best player on the planet. Learn some hockey.

Irony - I’m sorry this thread hurt your feelings and your weird reaction is just doubling down. Editing posts after reacting immediately in anger right away.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Irony - I’m sorry this thread hurt your feelings.

It didn’t hurt my feelings at all. I’m just sad at your inability to see the game clearly. You really think Matthews did the right thing there? He wasn’t even guarding anyone. Lmao

 

[lakeshirts37]

The bigger problem was that the f***in dinosaurs who run USA Hockey (just like the ones who came before them and are now retired) left some of the good players completely off the team. So you would have seen him replaced with some guy who didn’t really matter.


I read some crap about how Kreider was put in there because they like his speed lol. Is Kreider actually fast in 2025?

It felt like Sullivan was trying to get acquainted with some of his future players for next year after the Rangers hire him.

Yes Kreider is still insanely fast but he still should have been benched

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I get why as a player he felt like he had to suit up and play. But it's up to the team and doctors to tell him he is only hurting the team by suiting up hurt.

But as an outsider I'd say yes he was absolutely selfish tonight and f***ed the US. If you know Tkachuk has a possibility of not finishing the game you likely suit up Kyle Connor instead of Chris Kreider. And possibly Tage?

No team is going to hold a player out of a championship game unless that player can't stand up.

 

[MOGlLNY]

It didn’t hurt my feelings at all. I’m just sad at your inability to see the game clearly. You really think Matthews did the right thing there? He wasn’t even guarding anyone. Lmao

It’s called taking the puck lane brother. Barkov is one of the best on the planet at it if not the best so I thought you’d be able to comprehend.

No need to continue this conversation as you seem to be really clouded of judgement. Sorry if I ruined your afternoon.

 

[FinlandPanther]

It’s called taking the puck lane brother. Barkov is one of the best on the planet at it if not the best so I thought you’d be able to comprehend.

No need to continue this conversation as you seem to be really clouded of judgement. Sorry if I ruined your afternoon.

Exactly and Barkov would never make that stupid ass play. He would’ve been suffocating Mcdavid and not double covering the air but keep pretending you know anything. I watch the best defensive player on the planet play every night Don’t worry about it! Glad I could teach you some knowledge! Don’t be too upset late, everyone has to learn basics eventually!

 

[Duffy13]

Does Tkachuk or Sullivan make the lineup?

Does Sullivan have the info from the doctors and use that to make the best lineup?

You can blame Tkachuk for this all you want but Sullivan has a history of playing players while injured and f***ing up their seasons. You're welcome Florida, now you know what happens on a Sullivan coached team.

Tkachuk was never going to take himself out of the lineup and no one would expect him to... It's Sullivan who f***ed them.

 

[Sypher04]

Matthews had a great game....until OT. Then he turned back into a Maple Leaf pumpkin.

Hopefully he stays off the ice in 26 for any meaningful minutes like in OT.

Matthews was the best US forward by a mile in OT, until the last play. It’s arguable whether that goal was ultimately on him or Fox, but it happens. Matthews is the best two way forward on that American roster, so keeping him away from meaningful minutes would only hurt the US. Players like McDavid and many many others here at the 4 Nations have made a career of getting lost in coverage.

 

[Sypher04]

Exactly and Barkov would never make that stupid ass play. He would’ve been suffocating Mcdavid and not double covering the air but keep pretending you know anything. I watch the best defensive player on the planet play every night Don’t worry about it! Glad I could teach you some knowledge! Don’t be too upset late, everyone has to learn basics eventually!

Barkov doesn’t always make the right play, and gets beat plenty often too. Acting like he doesn’t is so disingenuous

 

[conFABulator]

No.

Austin Matthews did by choking in OT. One thing to be robbed by the goalie on slam dunk goals, another thing to snooze and leave the best player in hockey all alone in front of the net for eternity.

I guess if you want to hate on a guy you will hate on him and not let reality get in the way.

As a Canadian fan, I was uncomfortable every time Matthews was on the ice in OT. He was dangerous and responsible every shift. As you said Brady got robbed, so I won't claim it was his fault. If you are looking for places to lay blame...

Maybe Guerin should have built a hockey team and not a fantasy pool roster. The bottom six had no real purpose and I felt we could take a breath when Matthews and Eichel (lines) were not on the ice. I am sure Nelson and Boldy are good players, but I didn't understand their roles here, or others on the bottom six.

Same with D composition I suppose. The few times I heard Fox' name I was like "oh yeah, he's on this team" and he didn't show much, except for why not to chase a player behind the net.

I don't think Canada took the best 13 F AND 7 D. They took the guys that made the best team. Cirelli, Hagel, Bennett, Jarvis, Sanheim, etc seemed to have clear roles and purpose.

Hellebuyck was not the problem at all. He played well enough to win.

I think it was a bad strategy to play Saturday night like a gold medal game and then to chirp for four days like you won something. This is the Tkachuk way it seems and I don't think it helped. I didn't think either team was going to beat the other twice in a row. They gave the Canadians ammo.

Will JT Miller wear out his welcome on this team now too? Does he get traded for pennies on the dollar to Slovakia or something? Character matters and I would try to reign in the "group chat" guys a bit.

Having said this, it was a great game and tourney. I thought the US was the strongest team coming in and it came down to an OT where the US out chanced the Canadians. Anyone claiming to the the best right now, has that right I guess...but only for a few days and then it's about the Olympics and if the US can adjust (and have certain guys grow up) I think they could take home gold.

 

[Neil Racki]

Only played 5 minutes this game. Was clearly carrying an injury and played anyway.

No .. and this is a troll post imo

Not cool man

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I'm so confused. Haters, who am I supposed to hate today? Matthews or Tkachuk?

 

[Catscountry40]

Fantastic comment. Take a seat Tkachuck brothers.

People just hate to see them keep winning and being the face of the league.

It is clear that they are.

Over all these little skaters. I must make people so mad Matthew Tkachuck has more big time winning a clutch goals in the last two years than Matthews and McDavid have in their entire career combined

 

[FlyguyOX]

I'd say the fact they brought a terrible player who they never planned or wanted to play in Kreider cost them more.