The 4 Nations Faceoff is underway, with Canada and Sweden taking to the ice on Wednesday night time. Canada defeated Sweden by a rating of 4-3 in additional time. Earlier than that recreation bought underway, NHLRumors.com gave you gamers from Canada and Sweden going through strain to both step up or use this event as a catalyst to propel them ahead in the remainder of the NHL season.
4 Nations Faceoff: Gamers From Canada and Sweden Face Stress to Carry out
As we noticed, the depth was excessive between Sweden and Canada. It must be no totally different for Finland and Workforce USA on Thursday night time contained in the Bell Centre.
Partially two of our sequence, we have a look at the gamers from the USA and Finland who can be feeling essentially the most strain to carry out. As well as, we provides you with a few gamers who can use the event to assist them when the NHL returns to gameplay.
So, who will rise to the event for his or her respective golf equipment as soon as the puck drops in these high-intensity video games? Let’s Dive in taking a look at two gamers from every membership forward of tonight’s recreation.
4 Nations Faceoff: Stress Is On To Step Up
Auston Matthews – F – USA
Mitch Marner just isn’t the one Toronto Maple Leafs participant beneath numerous stress heading into this event. Once more, it’s nonetheless early, however Marner delivered in Sport 1 for Canada. Now it’s Auston Matthews’s flip to do it for Workforce USA. Whether or not it’s honest or not, you realize in regards to the success or lack thereof within the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Maple Leafs. Matthews has proven moments within the playoffs, however it at all times takes him a few video games to get going.
He can’t afford to try this in such a brief event because the 4 Nations Face-off is. Should you have a look at his numbers, Matthews has 48 factors (23 targets and 25 assists) in 55 playoff video games. He did have 11 factors in 11 video games through the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. However everyone knows how that second-round sequence ended towards Florida. Most of his factors had been collected within the first spherical towards Tampa Bay. So, he wants to point out he can get it accomplished early.
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Bear in mind final yr, Matthews missed the ultimate two video games of the playoffs towards the Boston Bruins with an harm. So this event, taking part in with Jake Guentzel and Jack Hughes, can be a part of a redemption tour. Matthews performed on the World Championships in 2016 for Workforce USA, and his final medal got here on the 2016 World Juniors. There, he tied for the event lead with seven targets. Matthews is seen as top-of-the-line gamers on the planet and can have loads to show.
Patrik Laine – F – Finland
That is the form of event that can assist somebody like Patrik Laine. When the rosters first had been introduced, Laine had not touched the ice for the Montreal Canadiens as he was coping with an harm from the preseason. Nevertheless, GM Jeri Lehtinen knew why he put Laine on the group: due to his ability and what he can do on the powerplay.
When he returned to the Canadiens lineup, Laine began off on hearth. He recorded eight targets in 9 video games, all of which got here on the facility play due to his deadly shot from the circle. He made a dwelling on that shot when he performed for the Winnipeg Jets. His recreation has cooled off some, however so have the Canadiens. Laine has gone 10 straight video games with out a purpose. His final purpose got here again on January nineteenth.
Patrik Laine a Distinction Maker for the Montreal Canadiens
Laine has 12 targets on the season, 10 of that are on the facility play. So particular groups in a brief event like this can be essential. We now have not seen Laine on this stage since 2016. He gained World Junior gold in Finland and gained silver on the Worlds in the identical yr. He tied Matthews with the event lead with seven targets. Laine is a participant that may step up right here and can look to get his recreation going. He hopes it’s going to carry over for the remainder of the common season.
Mikko Rantanen – F – Finland
Everybody will say, why Mikko Rantanen is on this listing? Nicely, ever because the commerce from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes, he has not been the identical participant. Let’s be sincere right here: Rantanen isn’t the identical participant he was in Colorado. To not point out, he’s nonetheless in shock that he bought traded. He has two factors (one purpose and one help) in six video games with the Hurricanes. Earlier than that, he had 64 factors (25 targets and 39 assists) in 49 video games with the Avalanche.
We all know who Rantanen is as a participant. He’s referred to as Moose for a purpose, however totally different teaching kinds and techniques have an effect on how gamers play. Finland is defensive-minded, however they’ve the offensive potential to get issues going. Enjoying on a line with present teammate Sebastian Aho and former teammate Artturi Lehkonen ought to assist Rantanen discover his recreation.
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Once more, as a result of Colorado has been so profitable within the playoffs, we have now not seen Rantanen on this stage. Although he did play in 2023, registering 9 factors in eight video games, all assists, the final time he actually performed was in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, he had 10 factors (4 targets and 6 assists) in 10 video games. The next yr, he had 11 factors (5 targets and 6 assists) in eight video games. So we all know the expertise and ability is there. The 4 Nations Faceoff may very well be turning level for Rantanen to get him on observe in Carolina.
Connor Hellebuyck – G – USA
One other goalie going through strain is Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck is seen as top-of-the-line goalies on the planet, however on the massive stage, he has faulted over the past couple of seasons in Winnipeg. Now, to be honest, the Jets play him each recreation, and he could be taxed by the point playoffs begin, however nonetheless, the most effective goalies on the planet get it accomplished on the massive stage.
It is a huge stage for Hellebuyck and Workforce USA. Everybody says the People have the most effective goalies on the planet. Should you have a look at the percentages, they’re co-favorites, together with Canada, to win. Not simply due to their guys upfront however due to the man in between the pipes, Connor Hellebuyck. The 2-time Vezina Trophy winner is having one other phenomenal season.
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By way of 43 Video games with the Jets, he has a report of 34-7-2 with a 2.06 GAA and a .925 save share. These are elite numbers. He’s on his approach to one other Vezina Trophy-winning season. The query can be, can he get it accomplished at this stage? He has performed for Workforce USA twice on the Worlds. As soon as in 2015 and as soon as in 2017. Although he put up good numbers in 2017, his numbers in 2015 had been excellent, with a report of 7-1 with a 1.37 GAA and a .948 save share,e and he was named First Workforce All-Star by the media. So he can go to that stage for Workforce USA.
4 Nations Face-off continues Thursday night time as Workforce USA takes on Finland on the Bell Centre in Montreal.
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