Brady and Matthew Tkachuk made a powerful statement as the United States crushed Finland 6-1 in their opening game at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Playing together on a big stage for the first time, the brothers each scored twice, bringing intensity and physicality to the game.
Matthew Tkachuk, a reigning Stanley Cup champion, reflected on their approach:
“That’s the way we play. You don’t change your game. You play your identity. It’s up to us and the rest of the guys to play to our strengths.”
Their aggressive playstyle set the tone, with Brady delivering eight hits, including a big collision with 6-foot-6 Finnish defenceman Niko Mikkola. Meanwhile, Matthew had his own physical battles, taunting Patrik Laine before a faceoff.
USA’s Physical Edge Pays Off
The Americans controlled the game with their physicality and relentless attacking. Jack Eichel contributed with a massive hit that sent Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov into the U.S. bench.
Zach Werenski, who provided three assists, praised the team’s approach:
“We knew the game would be fast and physical. We have some big bodies like the Tkachuks, J.T. Miller, and Eichel, who threw his weight around tonight. I thought we handled it well.”
A Tight Game Turns into a Blowout
Despite the final score, the game remained competitive for the first two periods, with both teams struggling to create scoring chances. However, the U.S. broke through late in the second period when Matt Boldy expertly deflected a shot from Brock Faber to give his team a 2-1 lead.
Then came an explosive start to the third period:
Just 15 seconds in, Matthew Tkachuk fired a long-range shot past Finnish goalie Juuse Saros.
Jake Guentzel added another goal moments later.
Brady Tkachuk scored again, completing three U.S. goals in under three minutes.
This rapid-fire scoring spree left Finland shell-shocked and silenced the overwhelmingly pro-Finnish crowd in Montreal.
Finland’s Struggles and Goalkeeper Woes
Finland’s only bright moment came early in the first period when Henri Jokiharju beat U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to open the scoring. However, that was all they could muster, as Hellebuyck saved the next 18 shots he faced, finishing with 20 saves.
Saros, on the other hand, endured a tough night, conceding six goals on 32 shots. Finnish coach Antti Pennanen admitted they were considering a change in goal for their next game:
“It was a tough day for Juuse. He was really good for 40 minutes, but we need to analyse this and make a decision before the next game.”
Tactical Changes That Made the Difference
U.S. coach Mike Sullivan made key in-game adjustments that helped his team dominate:
He moved Brady Tkachuk to the left wing alongside Eichel and Matthew.
Kyle Connor switched to a second line with Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes.
Defensive pairings were reshuffled, with Noah Hanifin joining Adam Fox and Jaccob Slavin pairing with Brock Faber.
Eichel, who embraced the changes, said:
“We’ve only been together for four days, and we’re still building chemistry. These adjustments helped us find our rhythm.”
Looking Ahead: A Clash with Canada
The U.S. victory puts them at the top of the 4 Nations standings, and excitement is already building for their next game against Canada on Saturday.
Brady Tkachuk, eager for the challenge, said:
“It’s going to be the biggest game of my career. We’ve been talking about it for a while, and I’m really excited to experience it.”
With their confidence sky-high, the Tkachuk brothers and Team USA will now shift their focus to the highly anticipated showdown against their biggest rivals.
Sources: NHL.com, ESPN, TSN