The Tkachuk brothers, Brady and Matthew, put on a dominant display as they scored twice each in a 6-1 United States victory over Finland in the opening game of the 4 Nations Face-Off. The physical showdown was marked by intensity throughout, with both teams exchanging hits and finishing checks.
Matthew Tkachuk, a reigning Stanley Cup champion, finished with three points and praised his brother’s performance, calling him “a beast.” Brady Tkachuk added eight hits and was involved in several key plays. Coach Mike Sullivan noted that the brothers have a way of “dragging us into the fight.”
The US team came out strong in the third period, scoring three goals in under three minutes to seal the win. Jake Guentzel scored two, including one past struggling Nashville goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Matthew Tkachuk added another on the power play with 8:47 left.
Finland’s Juuse Saros struggled in net, allowing six goals on 32 shots and may face competition from Kevin Lankinen for Finland’s game against Sweden on Saturday. Coach Antti Pennanen acknowledged that his team needed to analyze their performance and make adjustments for the next game.
The US, meanwhile, moved to the top of the 4 Nations standings with the win. Sullivan made some key midgame adjustments that contributed to the victory, including moving Brady Tkachuk to left wing with Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk. The team’s ability to find chemistry and get comfortable with each other was a factor in their success.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/43836166/tkachuk-brothers-score-twice-us-routs-finland-6-1-4-nations-face-off