Starting with three fights in the first nine seconds and ending with a celebration and a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off final, the United States delivered exactly what Matthew Tkachuk hoped for by beating Canada on Saturday night. “We needed to send a message,” Tkachuk said. “The message we wanted to send is ‘It’s our time.’” Tkachuk fought Brandon Hagel off the opening faceoff, brother Brady tussled with Sam Bennett the next time the puck dropped, JT Miller dropped the gloves with Colton Parayko next and the Americans followed those fisticuffs with a 3-1 victory over their biggest rival.
Dylan Larkin scored the go-ahead goal in the second period as the United States defeated Canada 3-1 in the 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday night, wrapping up a spot in the championship game by winning a contest that started with three fights in nine seconds and was played at a blistering pace with physicality throughout. The most anticipated game of round-robin play did not disappoint, from the fisticuffs off the opening faceoff to big hits from Charlie McAvoy on Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid and more than a few vital saves by Connor Hellebuyck among his 25. And the U.S. showed it could keep up with Canada's speed, skill and talent in the first international event with the NHL's best players in nearly a decade.
Immediately following puck drop on Saturday’s 4 Nations Face-Off match between USA and Canada, won 3-1 by the Americans, Tkachuk and Hagel threw their gloves to the ground and sparred with each other. During first intermission, Hagel and Matthew’s brother and team USA teammate, Brady, shared their reactions to the opening fights. During first intermission, Hagel and Matthew’s brother and team USA teammate, Brady, shared their reactions to the opening fights. Brady got into a fight just moments following his brother, clashing with Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett. “I think [Matthew’s fight] happened pretty organically,” Brady told ESPN after the first intermission. “Matthew said that he wanted to go first, it just happened and now it’s over and done with.” “It’s right when Matthew found out the starting lineup, he said that he wanted a piece of him [Hagel].”
