Does Canada have an answer to the Tkachuks?

[MNRube]

And if they want to rough it up/harass the goalie, etc., guys like Stone, Hagel, Doughty, Parayko are up for that too.

Canada has a goalie?

 

[MNRube]

Only source of concern for USA is their defensive zone effort was pretty lackadaisical.

Otherwise, Canada is going to have to step up physically in a major way. They won't be able to play a finesse game.

I think Connor comes out. Kreider can play the bottom 6 role better. Need more aggression from Miller & Larkin. Trocheck was pretty damn good defensively I thought.

Maybe Sanderson in for Faber. Faber’s coming off a concussion and is the 2nd youngest player in the tournament. He hasn’t been himself in the last month or so since he came back.

 

[Fatass]

Canada vs US....
It will come down to Marner vs Matthews...who's the bigger clutch player . Technically Marner was clutch in OT against Sweden!

Jokes aside....
Based on those 2 games...
Canada is much faster than the US.
US is clearly overall more physical than Canada.

I am expecting Canada 3rd/4th line to step up their physicality, pest like, and grinding play.

Canada D is incredibly mobile, but don't play much D..lol.

US is way ahead in goaltending.
All in all it should be fun to watch .

Watching the first two games makes it clear it should be a 3 Nation tournament.

 

[Voight]

Came here to say this. Doughty has a dickish mean streak in him.

Especially when it comes to Matthew Tkachuk

 

[madmike77]

Watching the first two games makes it clear it should be a 3 Nation tournament.

I think everyone knew the Finns would be in tough. They’ve got great goaltenders though so you never know.

 

[Ratsreign]

 

[Divine]

Beating up on Finland doesn’t make the Tkachuk’s some legendary duo.

Jani Hakanpaa was selected for the Finland defense after being injured all year and securing a 1 year UFA contract for 1.5M. That tells you what you need to know about Finland’s defense.

How many posters do you think can name Finland’s 6D man without looking?

 

[57special]

Teams should be even. Goaltending and special teams will be the decider.

 

[Fatass]

I think everyone knew the Finns would be in tough. They’ve got great goaltenders though so you never know.

Finns had great goalies.
They just have no depth in their lineup. Their top guys a great. But against clubs that have depth those top guys get tired playing too many hard minutes. Then, once those tired legs set in their club gets crushed. Combine that with not so good goaltending (which is what they have now) and it’s going to be a bad result.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Brady and Matthew are animals and absolutely are big game players.

Canada has the two best forwards in the league - McDavid and MacKinnon

Canada has the best defenceman in the league - Makar

Canada has Crosby

If those four guys play at their elite level - no one is beating this team.

The US needs Matthews to step the f*** up. International Matthews can not be playoff Matthews if they have any hope in winning.

As good as the elite players are they all play 17-20 minutes.

The secondary, also elite players can also win or lose a game with a single shift.

 

[Pucklington]

Do the Americans have an answer for McDavid and Mckinnon...

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

Watching the first two games makes it clear it should be a 3 Nation tournament.

Canada would have blown out Sweden if it wasn't for the goaltending. So you can argue it should be a 2 nations tournament.

Let's see what Sweden vs Finland does before making any real judgements.

 

[Fatass]

Canada would have blown out Sweden if it wasn't for the goaltending. So you can argue it should be a 2 nations tournament.

Let's see what Sweden vs Finland does before making any real judgements.

Finland will end up 0-3. Sweden getting a point from Canada could be the difference in a three team tie breaker.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Brady and Matthew play like good old canadian kids you love to see it

 

[RED ARMY EAST]

Do the Americans have an answer for McDavid and Mckinnon...

and Crosby

 

[zenator]

Maybe having a way better defense corps than Finland? And having good forwards so the puck will be in the US end way more than the Finns were able to do?

How can the US stop Mcdavid, McKinnon, Crosby, who are far better players than the Tkachuks?

 

[PrimumHockeyist]

If the Tkachuk's lean in on their physical/pestering games against Canada, who can counter them?

The only players I can think of are TK and Bennett. I don't think Canada has good options tbh.

I expect that the Canadians will emphasize Sochi-style five-man zone smothering, rather than mano-mano. The Tkachuks will have a hard time using their physical games to advantage, and Matthew doesn't have the size to impose like Brady does to begin with. The Sochi method seems like the best way to counter Eichel and A Matthews too.

 

[BallardEra]

I wonder which Canadian player said this?:

Team Canada Could Use Gritty Capitals Forward Against USA

The next time Team Canada hits the ice at the 4 Nations Face-Off, it’ll be against their biggest rival on the international stage, Team USA. Both Canada and the

www.si.com

 

[FlyguyOX]

I expect that the Canadians will emphasize Sochi-style five-man zone smothering, rather than mano-mano. The Tkachuks will have a hard time using their physical games to advantage, and Matthew doesn't have the size to impose like Brady does to begin with. The Sochi method seems like the best way to counter Eichel and A Matthews too.

Is that not what the Finns did?

 

[Beerz]

I think Connor comes out. Kreider can play the bottom 6 role better. Need more aggression from Miller & Larkin. Trocheck was pretty damn good defensively I thought.

Maybe Sanderson in for Faber. Faber’s coming off a concussion and is the 2nd youngest player in the tournament. He hasn’t been himself in the last month or so since he came back.

Meh.. Kreider shouldn't see the ice this tournament

 

[Lt Dan]

You ever hear of Brad Marchand?

I nose of him

 

[waitin425]

As good as the elite players are they all play 17-20 minutes.

The secondary, also elite players can also win or lose a game with a single shift.

Canada's secondary with Marner, Point, Marchand, Reinhart, Stone and Konecny can all hold their own and are elite players. Jarvis is getting there. Hagel and Cirelli are our weakest links IMO, to be filled with Bedard and Celebrini for 2026.

 

[NVious]

They're both great power forwards but Canada has the best players in the tournament (Mack/Mak/McD), so both teams have things the other lacks. Tbh I'd be more worried about Canada's goalies shitting the bed than those two who the players on Canada have dealt with fine.

 

[Nakawick]

Should have brought Zack Kassian!

Should have brought Rempe and Reaves.

 

[Czechboy]

Should have brought Rempe and Reaves.

Add Tom Wilson and the Calder Cup is all but locked up.lol