With a solid performance from Connor Hellebuyck and an excellent showing by the defense in front of him, Team USA ended Canada’s 26-game best-on-best winning streak and secured a place in the finals of the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off.
Jake Guentzel netted the USA’s opening goal and the final empty-netter, leading the Americans to a 3-1 victory against Team Canada on Saturday at the Bell Centre.
Team USA is set to take on Sweden on Monday at 8 p.m. in a match that holds no significance for the Americans, who are assured a place in Thursday’s final.
Canada, Finland, and Sweden all remain in contention for the other position. Canada faces Finland on Monday at 1 p.m.
The initial nine seconds of the match will be etched in international hockey history with three brawls occurring in that brief timeframe.
Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel threw punches just two seconds into the game. A moment later, Brady Tkachuk and Sam Bennett faced each other. In the end, J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko fought, just nine seconds into the game.
The surprising fight card fueled the already energized Bell Centre audience.
However, following that, the match carried on with playoff-level intensity, top-tier hockey, and exceptional defense.
Drew Doughty directed a slant pass to Connor McDavid as he entered the neutral zone. The Oilers superstar, recognized as one of the quickest players ever, surpassed Charlie McAvoy and outmaneuvered Connor Hellebuyck to score and take a 1-0 lead at 5:31 in the game.
Jack Eichel, having an impressive tournament thus far, brought the puck into the zone, attracting defenders to him. He passed to Jake Guentzel in the left circle, where the Lightning forward fired it past Jordan Binnington to equalize the game at 1-1 with 9:45 remaining in the first period.
The Americans took the lead in the second period when they exploited a poor line change by Team Canada, resulting in a two-on-one situation. The defenseman went for a pass, prompting Dylan Larkin to take the shot himself and score against Binnington, making it 2-1.
Guentzel scored a goal into the empty net with 1:19 remaining to secure the victory for the Americans.
Hellebuyck stopped 24 shots, with 17 of those in the second and third periods together.
