MONTREAL — In a thrilling display of skill and intensity, Charlie McAvoy delivered a significant hit on Connor McDavid, sending the world’s best hockey player crashing into the glass and subsequently to the ice. Just 19 seconds later, Jake Guentzel scored to equalize after McDavid had opened the scoring, leading the United States to a victory over Canada Saturday night in the dramatic 4 Nations Face-Off encounter. High-profile forward Matthew Tkachuk, who threw a punch just two seconds into the game to assert dominance, commended McAvoy’s impactful play.
“That hit sent a message — it was probably one of the key plays of the game,” Tkachuk stated. “After Canada scored, the arena was electric, and then Charlie comes in and makes that tremendous hit on McDavid. It might be one of the hardest hits I’ve ever witnessed.”
But McAvoy’s aggressive play didn’t stop there; he also delivered a powerful check to Sidney Crosby within the first minute of the game. Coach Mike Sullivan, who is also McAvoy’s father-in-law, has expressed how special it is to coach him in this significant tournament.
“Charlie is a fierce competitor,” Sullivan remarked. “I observe him regularly when he plays for the Bruins. Watching him perform has made it such an honor to coach him in a setting like this.”
Tkachuk praised McAvoy as one of the top American players against Canada, asserting, “We all simply followed his lead.”
McAvoy’s commanding presence on the ice certainly made it easy for his teammates to rally behind him. His hit on McDavid is regarded as a turning point in the match, according to his defense partner Zach Werenski. “He’s renowned for such hits, and that was precisely the momentum we needed,” Werenski added.
Looking ahead, McAvoy is set to play in the championship game at his NHL home arena, TD Garden in Boston, on Thursday night.
In other news, Cale Makar missed the Canadian team’s match against the U.S. due to an illness. He participated in an optional practice over the weekend, and coach Jon Cooper indicated that Makar is improving, making him a potential player for the crucial game against Finland on Monday, although a final decision will be made at game time.
“I’m doing everything I can to get back,” Makar expressed to reporters in Boston. “I need to prioritize what’s best for me to ensure I’m ready for the rest of the season.”
Finland’s Mikael Granlund emerged as the overtime hero by scoring against Sweden on Saturday. His game-winning goal came after a strategic 2-on-1 play where, despite the presence of defenseman Niko Mikkola and captain Aleksander Barkov, Granlund opted to shoot instead of passing.
“It was about time I took that shot,” Granlund admitted. “I’m really pleased it found the net.”
For Sweden, Ullmark took over as goalie from Filip Gustavsson after the first period in the match against Finland due to illness. Hallam hinted that a decision regarding who would be in net on Monday would be made based on Gustavsson’s recovery, although Ullmark has experience in Boston after serving as the Bruins’ goaltender for three seasons, and winning the Vezina Trophy last season.
