Welcome to as we speak’s NHL Commerce Speak Morning Roundup (February 20). Every morning, we’ll convey you three key NHL tales. Right here, you’ll be able to keep up to date on the newest group wins and losses, commerce speak, and participant information from across the NHL. Tonight is an enormous night time for North American hockey as a result of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship between Crew USA and Crew Canada will probably be performed.
Given the speak coming into the sport, followers ought to anticipate the sport versus the USA and Canada to be stuffed with animosity. We’ll share the goalie matchups in our NHL Commerce Speak roundups under. We’ll additionally share how Johnny Gaudreau has been further motivation for Crew USA. Lastly, we’ll report that the Maple Leafs Auston Matthews will play tonight after lacking the Crew Sweden recreation.
Goalie Showdown: Canada’s Binnington vs. USA’s Hellebuyck
Tonight’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship recreation pits two strong goalies against each other. Crew Canada’s Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues) has been polarizing. He’s been good at instances and let in gentle targets at others. He has excelled in high-danger save share, stopping 26 photographs, however there’s an underlying concern that he received’t present up when it issues most. Binnington has struggled on midrange photographs, permitting 4 targets in 13.
It’s now too late to go one other route, as Adin Hill hasn’t performed a single recreation within the match, and throwing him in can be unfair. Can Binnington present up and play lights out when Crew Canada wants it most?
Conversely, Crew USA’s Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets) is ideal on midrange makes an attempt, saving all eight confronted. Eric Engels famous that, whereas arguably one of the best goalie on the earth, he’s beatable. “He confronted 21 photographs in opposition to the Finns, he gave up 15 rebounds. He confronted 26 photographs in opposition to Canada, he gave up 18 rebounds.” The key? Shoot typically and shoot early.
In distinction, Who will assist their group win tonight’s battle?
Crew USA’s Matthew Tkachuk Motivated by Johnny Gaudreau’s Legacy
Studying feedback by Crew USA gamers, it’s simple to see that there’s an additional motivation at play in tonight’s championship recreation. Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers) additionally emphasised that taking part in for Johnny Gaudreau’s (Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets) reminiscence and household added extra motivation for Team USA. The group has hung Gaudreau’s jersey within the locker room, and his reminiscence has grow to be a presence.
Auston Matthews Returns for USA in 4 Nations Championship
Crew USA’s Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) has battled by means of an upper-body damage and is ready to play tonight in the 4 Nations championship recreation. He missed the sport in opposition to Crew Sweden however feels higher and can play for the North American showdown. Will his enchancment give Crew USA further confidence heading into the sport?
“These are the video games that you simply dream of,” Matthews said Wednesday. This recreation may be the most important recreation in Matthews’ profession.
Associated: NHL Commerce Speak Morning Roundup: Canucks, Jets & Oilers
