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 time beyond regulation. Earlier than that recreation acquired underway, NHLRumors.com gave you gamers from Canada and Sweden dealing with 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 needs to be no completely different for Finland and Crew USA on Thursday night time contained in the Bell Centre.
Partly two of our collection, we take 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 will provide 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 will not be the one Toronto Maple Leafs participant beneath lots of stress heading into this event. Once more, it’s nonetheless early, however Marner delivered in Recreation 1 for Canada. Now it’s Auston Matthews’s flip to do it for Crew USA. Whether or not it’s truthful or not, you understand 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 all the time 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 take 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 throughout the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. However everyone knows how that second-round collection ended towards Florida. Most of his factors had been collected within the first spherical towards Tampa Bay. So, he wants to indicate he can get it performed 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, enjoying with Jake Guentzel and Jack Hughes, can be a part of a redemption tour. Matthews performed on the World Championships in 2016 for Crew 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 this planet and could have lots to show.
Patrik Laine – F – Finland
That is the type 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 workforce: due to his talent and what he can do on the powerplay.
When he returned to the Canadiens lineup, Laine began off on fireplace. 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 residing 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 and not using a aim. His final aim 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 have now 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 record? Effectively, ever for the reason that 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 acquired traded. He has two factors (one aim 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 cause, however completely different teaching types and techniques have an effect on how gamers play. Finland is defensive-minded, however they’ve the offensive capability 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’ve got 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 talent is there. The 4 Nations Faceoff may very well be turning level for Rantanen to get him on monitor in Carolina.
Connor Hellebuyck – G – USA
One other goalie dealing with strain is Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck is seen as top-of-the-line goalies on this planet, however on the large stage, he has faulted over the past couple of seasons in Winnipeg. Now, to be truthful, the Jets play him each recreation, and he is likely to be taxed by the point playoffs begin, however nonetheless, the perfect goalies on this planet get it performed on the large stage.
This can be a massive stage for Hellebuyck and Crew USA. Everybody says the Individuals have the perfect goalies on this planet. Should you take a look at the chances, 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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Via 43 Video games with the Jets, he has a file of 34-7-2 with a 2.06 GAA and a .925 save proportion. These are elite numbers. He’s on his technique to one other Vezina Trophy-winning season. The query can be, can he get it performed at this stage? He has performed for Crew 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 file of 7-1 with a 1.37 GAA and a .948 save proportion,e and he was named First Crew All-Star by the media. So he can go to that stage for Crew USA.
4 Nations Face-off continues Thursday night time as Crew USA takes on Finland on the Bell Centre in Montreal.
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