MONTREAL — In an electrifying debut, brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk showcased their chemistry on the ice as they helped the United States secure a convincing 6-1 victory over Finland in the opening match of the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday night. Their impressive performance marked the first time the duo played together on such a significant stage, and they did not disappoint. Each brother netted two goals during the intense contest, contributing to a dominant display by the Americans.
Matthew Tkachuk, who recently became a Stanley Cup champion, emphasized their playing style after the game. “That’s the way we play, one of the reasons why we’re on the team,” he explained, adding that staying true to their strengths was paramount. Among the physical action, notable moments included Jack Eichel sending Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov crashing into the U.S. bench, while Brady Tkachuk delivered powerful body checks, including one against the 6-foot-6 Niko Mikkola.
During the match, Matthew referred to Brady as “a beast,” and U.S. coach Mike Sullivan echoed that sentiment, highlighting how the brothers’ intensity inspired the rest of the team. Defenseman Zach Werenski, who assisted on three goals, remarked that the American squad was well-prepared for the game’s speed and physicality, thanks in part to the Tkachuks and other sizeable players like J.T. Miller and Eichel, who also threw his weight around.
Despite the final score appearing to indicate a one-sided affair, the first two periods were tightly contested with limited scoring opportunities. It wasn’t until Minnesota Wild player Matt Boldy redirected a shot from Brock Faber in the dying moments of the second period that the U.S. took the lead. Early in the third period, Matthew Tkachuk quickly doubled the advantage with a long-range goal, followed by two more strikes from Jake Guentzel and Brady Tkachuk that signaled a quick shift in momentum.
Finland’s coach Antti Pennanen admitted that his team was caught off guard at the beginning of the third period, which led to considering a goalie change. The crowd, largely pro-Finland, quieted considerably as the Americans took control of the game. Some spectators even booed the U.S. national anthem and expressed their disdain each time Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was in possession of the puck.
Matthew Tkachuk capped off the scoring with a power-play goal later in the period, igniting chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” from the American fans at the Bell Centre. As the game wound down, a few U.S. supporters shouted, “We want Canada!” signaling their anticipation for the upcoming showdown.
The brothers prepared for a historic face-off against Canada this Saturday, with Brady declaring it might be the most significant game of his career and expressing excitement about the experience ahead. Finland managed only a solitary goal in the contest, scored by defenseman Henri Jokiharju, before Connor Hellebuyck of the U.S. shut the door on the remaining 18 attempts he faced, finishing with 20 saves.
In contrast, Finnish netminder Juuse Saros had a rough night, allowing six goals on 32 shots, which may lead to a goalie change for their Saturday match against Sweden, according to coach Pennanen, who noted that Saros was solid for the first 40 minutes but ultimately struggled.
Meanwhile, U.S. coach Mike Sullivan made crucial adjustments during the game that bolstered his team’s performance, positioning Brady Tkachuk alongside Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk on the first line and tweaking defensive pairings. Eichel remarked on the challenges of building chemistry in such a short time but felt confident about their contributions to the victory.
Looking ahead, the 4 Nations Face-Off rivalry continues on Saturday, kicking off with Sweden against Finland at 1 p.m. EST, followed by the much-anticipated matchup of the U.S. and Canada at 8 p.m.
