by Team Del Genio
Friday, Feb 28, 2025The United States national team recorded their biggest victory in decades in their 3-1 win against Canada in their second game in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Beating Team Canada is a big challenge for any national team. Canada had not lost in a best-on-best competition in international play since February 21st, 2010 before that setback. They had won twenty-six games in a row in international play when Sidney Crosby was on the roster.
Yet Team USA constructed one of its best-ever rosters under Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin who has the same responsibilities for this team. Any doubt about the ability of the Americans to compete should have been dispelled in their 6-1 victory against Finland in their opening game in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The American roster can match the Canadians' top-end scoring talent with Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, and Jack Hughes leading the way.
The Americans bottomed out in their last international event eight years ago in the World Cup of Hockey when they lost all three of their group-stage games. That roster consisted of many gritty two-way players who thrived during the Stanley Cup playoffs yet were not as good of fits in international play that features speed and skill with a different set of rules. That USA team did not have up-and-coming talent either like Matthews, Eichel, Johnny Gaudreau, and Dylan Larkin who played for 21-and-under North American squad. Guerin compiled a roster that emphasizes speed and skill now. The heart and soul of this team are the Tkachuk brothers, Brady and Matthew, who are playing together on a line centered by Eichel. Their energy and physicality were the controlling factors in the first game against the Canadiens (and it started when they both initiated the first two of the three fights in those electrifying opening nine seconds).
Yet the big edge for Team USA remains in net with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck who may be the best goaltender in the world right now. He has a 2.07 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage for Winnipeg in the NHL this season. He stopped 25 of 26 shots against Canada including 10 of the 11 high danger chances the Canadians mustered. Hellebuyck stopped 45 of the 47 shots he has faced in this tournament for a .957 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average before the championship game. In his two games before the rematch against Canada, he had saved 16 of the 17 high-danger shots for a .941 save percentage. He also stopped all eight of the shots he has faced from midrange.
The Americans’ 2-1 loss against Sweden in their final game before the finals should not have been considered a red flag since head coach Mike Sullivan was able to rest key players. Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk did not play dealing with minor injuries. Brady Tkachuk did not play after the first period after suffering a minor injury. Jake Oettinger was in the net with Connor Hellebuyck getting the night. The intensity of the game was not the same since the Americans' victory on Saturday clinched their spot in the championship game. Despite the loss, the USA registered 4.07 expected goals and held the Swedes to 2.42 expected goals.
Even a 3-2 loss in overtime in the championship game to Canada should not detract from the threat Team USA should present in international play for the rest of the decade. The USA outshot Canada, 33-27. Matthew Tkachuk only played 6:47 minutes in the game before not being able to return due to the injury he suffered early in the tournament. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy was also out for the entire game with a shoulder injury. Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes did not play in the entire tournament because of an injury as well.
Certainly, the Canadian roster will be stacked for the 2026 Olympics. They will probably have a goaltender who is more reliable than St. Louis’ Jordan Binnington. Yet the Americans have too many players in the prime of their careers to not be a serious threat to lift trophies in international events for the next several years.
Good luck - Team Del Genio.
Yet Team USA constructed one of its best-ever rosters under Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin who has the same responsibilities for this team. Any doubt about the ability of the Americans to compete should have been dispelled in their 6-1 victory against Finland in their opening game in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The American roster can match the Canadians' top-end scoring talent with Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, and Jack Hughes leading the way.
The Americans bottomed out in their last international event eight years ago in the World Cup of Hockey when they lost all three of their group-stage games. That roster consisted of many gritty two-way players who thrived during the Stanley Cup playoffs yet were not as good of fits in international play that features speed and skill with a different set of rules. That USA team did not have up-and-coming talent either like Matthews, Eichel, Johnny Gaudreau, and Dylan Larkin who played for 21-and-under North American squad. Guerin compiled a roster that emphasizes speed and skill now. The heart and soul of this team are the Tkachuk brothers, Brady and Matthew, who are playing together on a line centered by Eichel. Their energy and physicality were the controlling factors in the first game against the Canadiens (and it started when they both initiated the first two of the three fights in those electrifying opening nine seconds).
Yet the big edge for Team USA remains in net with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck who may be the best goaltender in the world right now. He has a 2.07 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage for Winnipeg in the NHL this season. He stopped 25 of 26 shots against Canada including 10 of the 11 high danger chances the Canadians mustered. Hellebuyck stopped 45 of the 47 shots he has faced in this tournament for a .957 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average before the championship game. In his two games before the rematch against Canada, he had saved 16 of the 17 high-danger shots for a .941 save percentage. He also stopped all eight of the shots he has faced from midrange.
The Americans’ 2-1 loss against Sweden in their final game before the finals should not have been considered a red flag since head coach Mike Sullivan was able to rest key players. Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk did not play dealing with minor injuries. Brady Tkachuk did not play after the first period after suffering a minor injury. Jake Oettinger was in the net with Connor Hellebuyck getting the night. The intensity of the game was not the same since the Americans' victory on Saturday clinched their spot in the championship game. Despite the loss, the USA registered 4.07 expected goals and held the Swedes to 2.42 expected goals.
Even a 3-2 loss in overtime in the championship game to Canada should not detract from the threat Team USA should present in international play for the rest of the decade. The USA outshot Canada, 33-27. Matthew Tkachuk only played 6:47 minutes in the game before not being able to return due to the injury he suffered early in the tournament. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy was also out for the entire game with a shoulder injury. Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes did not play in the entire tournament because of an injury as well.
Certainly, the Canadian roster will be stacked for the 2026 Olympics. They will probably have a goaltender who is more reliable than St. Louis’ Jordan Binnington. Yet the Americans have too many players in the prime of their careers to not be a serious threat to lift trophies in international events for the next several years.
Good luck - Team Del Genio.
