MONTREAL – Matthew Tokachuk said he's got the best in a post-match interview with Sportsnet when the Panthers star said he's waiting for Saturday's “nine years” match against Canada I've put it there.
So does the rest of the hockey world.
There's more to more than just a big game feel as hostilities renewed between the US and Canada at Bell Centre Ice on Saturday's Primetime. It has the atmosphere of Game 7, the feel of the Stanley Cup, and the feel of the 2019 events.
There's nothing bigger in the Best On Best Tournament than Team USA and Canada. It's been almost ten years since I last saw it.
The Ethan Sears in the post breaks down matchups.
Goal tenting
Canada's coach John Cooper declined to name the starter on Friday, saying he hasn't yet known the goalkeeper. There was no need to ask Team USA's Mike Sullivan the same question.
The nature of the Best On Best Tournament is like every player on the ice has abilities. But whether Cooper goes with Jordan Binnington in his second straight game or heads for Addin Hill, Team USA has the edge in the net with two Vezina winner Conor Helebuick .
corner: Team USA
defense
The blue line on either team doesn't look the same as what was expected before the tournament. Team USA had no Quinn Hughes. Quinn Hughes retreated late due to injuries and switched pairs midway through Thursday's Finland victory, moving Adam Fox alongside Brock Farber along with Noah Hanifin and Jackob Slavin.
However, Canada is approaching an outside crisis after Sie Theodore was defeated over Sweden and top D-Man Cale Makar missed out on Friday's illness practice. Cooper said he's confident that McAlle will play on Saturday, but Thomas Harley hasn't made the original roster and is not allowed to practice or skate with the team. , is on standby to join if Canada becomes five advocates. Travis Sanheim pulls in for Theodore.
corner: Team USA
forward
Posing Brady and Matthew Tokachuk on either side of Jack Aychel was inspired by Sullivan on Thursday, and perhaps saved the game.
Canada has clear and obvious advantages in terms of skill. Sydney Crosby, Nathan McKinnon and Connor McDavid are among the top six, but Americans try to play a more physical game. That doesn't mean that Team USA doesn't have the skills, or Team Canada can't handle physicality. This is the best on best and everyone can do it all. That means there is a difference in how each team tries to set the tone.
It's hard to see how these forward groups and how they played in their respective openers of each team. The top-end talent was so good that it got, and it showed to a greater extent against Sweden, frankly, than Jake Gunzel, Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes Line played against Finland.
corner:Team Canada
Special team
If Team USA has a clear and obvious advantage in terms of goaltending, this is the Canada answer.
Canadian top power play units of Makar, Crosby, McDavid, McKinnon and Sam Reinhardt are talented and capable of translation into ice by scoring almost instantly on the only power play of Canada's match against Sweden. I have proven that. The main question is whether the referee will make a call given the benefits that the Power Play has to Canada.
As for Team USA, Matthew Tokachuk scored a pair of power-play goals against Finland, one that Juze Saros should have stopped and the other was garbage time. There were moments of power play time that the units struggled to set up, over 5:18, and Sullivan doesn't compare it to what Canada has.
corner:Team Canada
Coaching
Sullivan has two Stanley Cup titles and Cooper is also available. Both have assistant coaches who won the Cup (John Tortorella in the US and Bruce Cassidy in Canada) and staff packed with familiar names. It's ridiculous to choose someone else here.
corner: Flat
prediction
The talent and home crowd of Canada's top end give them a tough-fought victory.
Canada 4, USA 2
