4 Nations Face-Off results, takeaways: Tkachuk brothers shine for Team USA, Hellebuyck keeps Finland at bay

The 4 nations of face continued on Thursday evening when the United States went through Finland in the first game of the round tournament. After a slow start, the Americans exploded with a third period of four goals on a route to a 6-1 dominant victory.

The North -Americans actually fell back in the opening period after Buffalo Senior Ombudsman Henri Jokihaju marked a shot that surpassed the goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck.

The United States got the blow to the back of the network when striker Brady Tkachuk scored only three minutes later. Tkachuk was able to correct the shit enough to drag him ahead of the goalkeeper Juus Saros to tie the game.

The United States was able to score five unanswered goals during the last two periods. At the end of the second period, Minnesota Wild striker, Matt Boldy, set a deviation at a point point on the fellow team companion Brock Faber.

In the third period, Florida Panthers protagonist Matthew Tkachuk scored a couple of goals, while his brother, Brady, won his second goal of the night.

The offensive attack of the North -Americans really exploded during the second half of the game. We look closely at all the actions from the Thursday contest with some to take away.

Tkachuk brothers shine

It was certainly a night to remember the Tkachuk family. Brady and Matthew Tkachuk became the second set of brothers in each goal in the same game Nhl International Tournament since Milan and Zbynek Michalek scored goals for the Czech Republic in the 2016 World Hockey Cup. The Tkachuk brothers also became the third group of brothers to have several points in the same game, as They joined Aaron and Neal Broten in the United States (Round Round of the Canada Cup) and Marian and Peter Stastny of Czechoslovakia (1976 Round Canada Cup).

In the second period, United States coach Mike Sullivan made a decision to mix his lines and paid great fruits. He actually moved to Brady and Matthew Tkachuk to a line with Jack Eichel, and the rest was history.

Entering the third period, the United States clung to a 2-1 lead. The North -Americans certainly did not miss any time by putting their stamp on the opening minute of the final period.

When the puck is thrown into the net, good things can sometimes happen. Only 15 seconds from the final period, Columbus’s blue jackets supported the stroke of a Matthew Tkachuk open, and Tkachuk quickly sent a shot of return that passed in front of Saros thanks to being proposed by the Finnish defender Niko Mikkola.

Less than three minutes later, Brady scored for the second time at night. Ironically, Matthew began the move in the neutral zone when he was able to excavate the free and to get it to Eichel. Eichel then found a Brady cut, and was able to slide a setback under Saros to get the goal.

It was a remarkable performance for the Tkachuk brothers, and the tide turned completely when Sullivan placed the two brothers in the same vein. After the huge success of this line, it is difficult to imagine that Sullivan would not keep the trio together when the United States faces Canada on Saturday.

Connor Hellebuyck remains high

Hellebuyck surprised the opening goal of the competition at the beginning of the first period, but was sensational after that minor mishap. The Winnipeg Jets Netontder stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced in a very impressive performance during the two most final periods.

Finland was very aggressive in the first half of the game, as they put in Hellebuyck with shots. Shortly after allowing the first goal of the game, Hellebuyck turned from Finland to the power game during a scrum in front of the network.

Perhaps Hellebuyck’s largest stop came with about eight minutes in the second period when the game was still tied at 1-1. Finland sent a pass that stuck from the boards and to the post of New Jersey Devils, Erik Haula. In Hellebuyck alone, Hula tried to raise Hellebuyck’s upper shelf, but the North goalkeeper -American stopped his fist before he put on the glass.

See that Hellebuyck runs in an international scenario may not be shocking if you have seen the goalkeeper of the jets during the last two seasons. After all, Hellebuyck won the Vezina trophy as the best goalkeeper of the NHL last season, and will probably win the prestigious prize again this season. Currently, Hellebuyck leads the league in victories (34), goals in the average (2.07) and save percentage (.925).

It was a devastating blow when it was announced that Vancouver Canucks Ombudsman Quinn Hughes would not play the United States in the face of 4 nations due to oblique injury. However, despite not having one of the highest proponents of the sport, the safe United States did not lose a rhythm at both ends of ice against Finland.

One of the main reasons for the North -Americans was the work of the defender Zach Werenski. Werenski did a little of everything in the United States victory. At the end of the ice, Werenski won a three -attendance game and tied a record for the NHL International Tournament for assists and points by a defender. Two of Werenski’s attendance were main assists and scored goals from teammate Matthew Tkachuk.

Werenski’s work body was really sensational to Thursday’s match. The Blue Jackets Blue-Liner led the United States player with 21:45 ice time, while registered 27 shifts with Charlie McAvoy’s defensive pairing partner. Werenski also finished the game with a +2 rating, and was one of the leading ice players.

Despite being a juggler on the back, Werenski could still be one of the best kept secrets in the league. It does not get the notoriety that Makar or Hughes receives, but it is as dangerous as a two -way defender. Werenski is a Norris Trophy contestant as the main defender of the NHL this season, and now everyone begins to see why in a massive stage.