Series Talk: Four Nations Face-Off Tournament

[wayninja]

Lol Oiler fans going nuts about Mackinnon getting tournament MVP

The best thing about the tournament is putting to bed the ridiculous notion that Chris McDavid or whoever is better than Nathan Mackinnon.

 

[Hennessy]

Did y'all see McAvoy walking in and reading the lineup card? That weird looking dude was throwing huge Bud Cort vibes, and that's something you never want to be accused of.

View attachment 980389

I get the Bud Cort similarity, and props on it, but whenever I see McAvoy I always think of Kyle Rittenhouse. Suffice it to say it is not a pleasing reminder.

 

[Avs_19]

Me as a Canada, Avs, MacKinnon, and Makar fan watching people argue over whether Matthews or Fox were at fault for the GWG:

 

[Gumballhead]

I get the Bud Cort similarity, and props on it, but whenever I see McAvoy I always think of Kyle Rittenhouse. Suffice it to say it is not a pleasing reminder.

The truth is definitely somewhere in between these two disparate awkward honkies.

The best thing about the tournament is putting to bed the ridiculous notion that Chris McDavid or whoever is better than Nathan Mackinnon.

I loved that I could always tell when Cale or Nate had the puck because when they go to make moves, literally no one looks anything like those two. Bonkers.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Me as a Canada, Avs, MacKinnon, and Makar fan watching people argue over whether Matthews or Fox were at fault for the GWG:

I'm American, and after I slept it off even I'm enjoying it.

The Edmonton salt is icing on the cake between Toronto, NYR and Americans in general lol.

Basically all of the NYR players looked bad lol.

I got my Mack MVP wish, so I'm happy.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I just don't understand the stance of anyone who was let down by USA or MacKinnon (jab at Oilers fans).

I get that USA lost. I get that their big names didn't secure a win. BUT... didn't the freaking game end in OT? This game was right there for like 70ish minutes. It's not like Canada should have been considered an easy win or a definite win either. These two teams gave me everything I could have hoped for over the course of their two games.

My hat is off to Canada, but seriously... I don't think any fans lost anything here. This was a damn spectacle and I can't wait for my next taste.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Canada’s d core isn’t very good when you think about it. Top pair with Makar and Toews is what it is, and after that it really gets weak.

Morrissey is good
Parayko is meh
Doughty is old
Sanheim is ok

Makar is gonna get all the attention from US forwards, they gonna be physical on him and hopefully he’ll come out of that game healthy. I think US beats Canada. They are just too deep everywhere

Blah, blah, blah.

So you’re saying you agree with me? Got ya

This is what I know.

There have been 6 best on best hockey tournaments this century.

Canada have won 5, Sweden have won 1, USA have won… nothing.

The best defenseman from either team is Makar and he didn’t play on Saturday night.

The best forwards from either team are McDavid, MacKinnon, and Crosby.

The USA have far superior goaltending.

Never count out a hockey team wearing a Canadian jersey until the final whistle.

@myperbixhurts

A team wearing a Canadian jersey in a best-on-best tournament are always the favourites.

Never forget, old friend.

 

[Bender]

Petey doesn't give Cale much credit for his part in the sequence, he's rather blasé about Cale passing along to boards to Marner. Yet, it's a good breakdown of the breakdown.

Yeah it's a good breakdown but certainly not enough is being made of the play that Makar made. He made a snap decision to ring it around to Marner when he saw he was open. He had about half a second to make up his mind to do that when everyone - including me - expected him to try and shoot it towards the net.

Exceptional play with exceptional hockey sense.

 

[S E P H]

But in all seriousness, he was average to below for the tourney… But to show the level of clutch he did in ot says a lot about him as a player. The states tried to get under his skin but he wouldn’t bite. Props to him for his big game showmanship, and thanks for willing us to victory in ot.

My argument is that Matthews should score on his chance rather than Binner being amazing. If Auston simply elevates the puck in the top corner - which someone of his talent should be doing - that is a 99.9% sheer goal.

I just don't understand the stance of anyone who was let down by USA or MacKinnon (jab at Oilers fans).

I get that USA lost. I get that their big names didn't secure a win. BUT... didn't the freaking game end in OT? This game was right there for like 70ish minutes. It's not like Canada should have been considered an easy win or a definite win either. These two teams gave me everything I could have hoped for over the course of their two games.

My hat is off to Canada, but seriously... I don't think any fans lost anything here. This was a damn spectacle and I can't wait for my next taste.

That's why USA had to win. Not because I was a fan of them or anything, but because of the scum, sore-winner attitude that Canadians display in tournaments like this. So f***ing annoying.

 

[Avsfan1921]

My argument is that Matthews should score on his chance rather than Binner being amazing. If Auston simply elevates the puck in the top corner - which someone of his talent should be doing - that is a 99.9% sheer goal.

True, but he can only stop the shots he’s faced with. And in overtime he stood tall.

 

[Foppa2118]

I can’t believe I’m reading Leafs fans defending Matthews and saying he made the right play on the winning goal.

I’ve had to respond in the Four Nations forum breaking it down.

View attachment 980300

First… Hughes(#86) and Nelson(#29) are correctly covering their points.

Hanifin(#15) is correctly covering the front of the net as he’s the LHD and the puck is in the USA right corner. He’s got Point wrapped up in front.

Fox(#23), the RHD, regardless of the path he took, is going to close down Marner in the USA right corner. Marner is standing completely still and is no threat to score from that position. All he can do is pass. Fox is going to close him down.

Matthews(#34) is the center and the slot threat where his opposing center, McDavid, finds himself is 100% his responsibility. Look at the path. Look at the dots. That’s simple coverage.

Matthews got caught puck watching Marner who, again, is zero threat to score from there or even drive the net as Fox is closing him down.

Matthews’ responsibility on that play is to take Marner’s pass away to the obvious man he is supposed to be covering, McDavid.

Obvious shit.

lol dude you shouldn't have to draw anything up.

McDavid was Matthews man the entire time off the face-off. He lost where his D man was and left the best player in the world in the slot, to go at Marner who was taken by the D man, and can't score from the corner.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

lol dude you shouldn't have to draw anything up.

The dots are from an account I follow on Twitter. I wouldn’t waste my time doing that.

 

[Foppa2118]

The dots are from an account I follow on Twitter. I wouldn’t waste my time doing that.

I just can't believe it would be in dispute. Cognitive dissonance is a hell of drug.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

My argument is that Matthews should score on his chance rather than Binner being amazing. If Auston simply elevates the puck in the top corner - which someone of his talent should be doing - that is a 99.9% sheer goal.


That's why USA had to win. Not because I was a fan of them or anything, but because of the scum, sore-winner attitude that Canadians display in tournaments like this. So f***ing annoying.

 

[Foppa2118]

Petey doesn't give Cale much credit for his part in the sequence, he's rather blasé about Cale passing along to boards to Marner. Yet, it's a good breakdown of the breakdown.

It wasn't so much the pass that was great from Cale, it was his anticipation and awareness. You could see it in real time. He saw the play develop, knew to hustle to the boards, and got to the puck when many wouldn't have.

Makar played a decent sized role in that goal. Not as much as McDavid and Marner, but they never get the puck, if Cale doesn't read the play and skate so well.

 

[dahrougem2]

It wasn't so much the pass that was great from Cale, it was his anticipation and awareness. You could see it in real time. He saw the play develop, knew to hustle to the boards, and got to the puck when many wouldn't have.

Makar played a decent sized role in that goal. Not as much as McDavid and Marner, but they never get the puck, if Cale doesn't read the play and skate so well.

USA had no answer for Cale.

The difference between him and the other Canadian defensemen was astonishing to see. It really shows just how much better he is than the rest of the league on D.

 

[Foppa2118]

Also, Jacob Slavin is the best defensive defenseman in the world, right?

Holy shit he doesn’t put a foot wrong in his own zone.

You see Slavin hit his face on the ice to block that shot? That was nuts.

Somehow the visor saved him from a badly broken nose and rearranged grill.

 

[Foppa2118]

USA had no answer for Cale.

The difference between him and the other Canadian defensemen was astonishing to see. It really shows just how much better he is than the rest of the league on D.

100%. Very clear distinction. Everyone else looked a bit intimidated by the moment all tournament too. Not the ultimate competitor Cale.

Scary thing is, I didn't think Cale's puck control and passing were as good as normal. Plus he was sick. He had another level in him I was waiting to see. Maybe in the Olympics.

 

[dahrougem2]

100%. Very clear distinction. Everyone else looked a bit intimidated by the moment all tournament too. Not the ultimate competitor Cale.

Scary thing is, I didn't think Cale's puck control and passing were as good as normal. Plus he was sick. He had another level in him I was waiting to see. Maybe in the Olympics.

Cale seems like the type who needs to spend some time with guys and doesn't find instant chemistry. You could see it on plays where he would creep into the slot only for the puck to be put into his skates. If that's an Avalanche player giving him the puck, it's on his blade.

 

[niwotsblessing]

100%. Very clear distinction. Everyone else looked a bit intimidated by the moment all tournament too. Not the ultimate competitor Cale.

Scary thing is, I didn't think Cale's puck control and passing were as good as normal. Plus he was sick. He had another level in him I was waiting to see. Maybe in the Olympics.

I'd prefer to see it in the year's Cup Finals.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Me as a Canada, Avs, MacKinnon, and Makar fan watching people argue over whether Matthews or Fox were at fault for the GWG:

All Matthews fault.

 

[The Kingslayer]

USA had no answer for Cale.

The difference between him and the other Canadian defensemen was astonishing to see. It really shows just how much better he is than the rest of the league on D.

Cale was just ok and he was still better than everyone else. Goes to show when you have the second best dman on the planet on your side chances are you are going to do well.