The American and Canadian males’s hockey groups have been eyeing one another since Connor McDavid’s additional time aim lifted Canada over the US within the 4 Nations match in Boston final February.
Now, lastly, they will have at one another another time.
Staff USA superior to the Sunday morning’s gold medal recreation (8:10 a.m. ET) with a 6-2 steamrolling of match Cinderella Slovakia within the Olympic semifinal on Friday. Jack Hughes scored twice, whereas Jack Eichel, Tage Thompson and Brady Tkachuk had a aim and an help every to steer the Individuals. Zach Werenski had three assists.
Now, after the U.S. ladies pulled out the additional time win over Canada in that gold medal recreation on Thursday, the Individuals can pull off the Olympian hockey sweep. Not like the ladies, the American males gained’t be the overwhelming favorites, irrespective of how a lot hassle Canada has had in its final two video games.
“Clearly, it’s an important crew in Canada. We noticed them twice within the 4 Nations (the U.S. gained the primary matchup). It’s going to be a battle,” Werenski informed NBC. “We’re going to get pleasure from this tonight, we’re going to prepare for them (Saturday) and deal with them extra. However we’re wanting ahead to the problem.”
Canada held up its finish of the discount on Friday – barely. Dwelling dangerously once more, the Canadians needed to come again from a 2-0 second interval deficit towards Finland and gained it on Nathan MacKinnon’s last-minute power-play aim. That’s after they needed to go to 3-on-3 additional time to beat Czechia within the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The U.S. and Canadian rosters are roughly the identical because the 4 Nations match, which some very notable exceptions. Canada has added Macklin Celebrini, the previous Boston College Terrier who’s already one of many world’s finest gamers at 19, whereas captain Sidney Crosby is questionable with a decrease physique harm. Crosby sat out Friday’s recreation towards Finland. Even with out Crosby, the Canadians are loaded with generational skills like McDavid, MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
The Individuals, in the meantime, have added dynamic defenseman Quinn Hughes, who was injured at the moment final yr, and 6-foot-6 slot sniper Thompson, via Thompson didn’t return to the bench for the third interval on Friday after taking a crosscheck within the again. NBC reported that it was for precautionary causes. The U.S. may even have Bruin defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who missed the 4 Nations last due to the shoulder harm that price him the remainder of the season.
American captain Auston Matthews’ day job is with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“It’s going to be unbelievable. It’s an incredible alternative,” stated Matthews. “Clearly, I can see each side of it taking part in in Canada (within the NHL) and representing the U.S. It’s an important rivalry, two nice groups and it’s going to be an thrilling matchup.”
The Individuals, who wanted a Quinn Hughes additional time aim to advance previous Sweden within the quarterfinals, didn’t stroll the identical tightrope that Canada did on Friday.
In second semifinal, the Individuals got here out flying and took the primary lead of the sport 4:19 into it.
Werenski despatched Dylan Larkin off on a partial break with a move up the intestine and Larkin buried it previous goalie Samuel Hlavaj.
The Slovakians held their floor for some time and had been helped out by a pair of U.S. penalties. Slovakia didn’t threaten on both benefit – Hlavaj needed to make an important save on Larkin shorthanded bid — however it did appear to throw off the Individuals’ ahead movement for a bit.
However after Slovakia put the US on the facility play late within the interval, the Yanks cashed in with 41 seconds left. Chelmsford’s Eichel put it on a tee for Thompson on the left circle and the Sabres’ hulking middle ripped a one-timer that beat Hlavaj to the quick facet, sending the U.S. into the primary break feeling good about itself.
The U.S. had an opportunity to place the hammer down instantly within the second interval when Brady Tkachuk egged on Martin Fehervary to take a post-whistle penalty, however Matthews rapidly nullified it with a hooking penalty.
McAvoy additionally took his second penalty of the sport shortly after that, however the Individuals killed that off, too.
The Individuals received a PP halfway via the second on one other Fehervary infraction they usually had quite a few probabilities to attain – Matthews clanged the put up – however the third aim remained elusive.
However after a Jake Guentzel was rightly referred to as again for a definite kicking movement, the Yanks ripped it open the sport with two targets in 19 seconds.
First, Jack Hughes made it 3-0 at 12:14. Quinn’s youthful brother, who appears like a far superior model of himself from the one who performed within the 4 Nations final yr, made an unbelievable shift within the excessive slot to keep away from a Slovakian defender after which ripped a shot previous Hlavaj. He would add one other one to make it 5-0 late within the second. A full-strength Jack Hughes would signify one other test mark within the Individuals’ column for Sunday’s tilt.
“I’ve felt all the way in which again the final bunch of years, I don’t know, I’ve had quite a lot of accidents. However I’m a hockey participant,” the New Jersey Satan informed reporters in Italy. “I feel I’ve been taking part in properly. I do know everybody doesn’t watch the Devils each single night time, however I like the place I’m at and I’ve all the time believed in myself. I do know the participant that I’m.”
On the following shift, Brady Tkachuk and his brother Matthew gained a puck behind the online. Brady fed Eichel in entrance and Eichel slipped a backhander previous Hlavaj.
That virtually did it.
Hlavaj, who had performed in addition to he may have performed each within the match and on this recreation, was pulled at that time, maybe with a watch towards Saturday’s bronze medal recreation towards Finland. A bronze would imply one thing to both the Finns or the Slovakians.
However to the USA and Canada, solely gold will do.
Set the alarm clocks.
