Boston — In the recently concluded 4 Nations Face-Off championship game, Matthew Tkachuk was notably absent from the ice for the United States during the third period and overtime against Canada. His injury status remains uncertain, which raises concerns about how it will influence his return to the Florida Panthers as the NHL season resumes. Tkachuk sustained the injury during a preliminary round match against Canada last week and subsequently did not participate in the round-robin final against Sweden held on Monday. The U.S. team has yet to provide specifics about the nature of Tkachuk’s injury, with coach Mike Sullivan only disclosing that it was a lower-body issue.

Tkachuk’s brother and teammate, Brady Tkachuk, expressed concern about his sibling’s condition after the U.S. team suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Canada, clinched by Connor McDavid’s goal 8:18 into overtime. “He clearly plays through a lot of pain, and I doubt this is any different,” Brady noted, adding that he was aware of Matthew’s disappointment regarding the situation.

Bill Zito, the general manager of the Panthers, was involved with the U.S. management team at the international tournament. Zito had orchestrated a major trade with Calgary to acquire Tkachuk in the summer of 2022, and they celebrated a Stanley Cup victory together last season.

In goal for Canada, Jordan Binnington excelled again in Boston, successfully thwarting 31 of the 33 shots directed at him during the matchup. He showcased remarkable skills, delivering 20 consecutive saves following an early goal by Jake Sanderson and six additional saves in overtime. This performance took place in the same arena where he famously led the St. Louis Blues to their Stanley Cup victory in 2019, allowing just one goal against the Bruins.

“Our goalie made some crucial saves despite the high number of chances they had,” remarked Nathan MacKinnon, who was named tournament MVP. Binnington was selected by coach Jon Cooper to start all four games of the tournament, easing concerns about Canada’s goaltending leading into the 4 Nations. His consistent performance puts him in a strong position to potentially start for Canada at the Milan Olympics next year.

Charlie McAvoy was another significant player for the U.S. in earlier games, known for his impactful hits against star players like McDavid and Sidney Crosby, which helped the U.S. to a victory against Canada. Unfortunately, McAvoy was ruled out of the final after developing a shoulder injury that led to an infection, necessitating hospitalization. He showed support for his teammates from the stands, receiving a warm applause from the local fans when featured on the video board.

Notably, Jake Sanderson, who was a late addition to the U.S. roster last weekend as a replacement for the injured Quinn Hughes, made his mark by scoring on Thursday night. Initially a healthy scratch, Sanderson only stepped into action after McAvoy’s injury. “I just focused on being positive, taking it simple, and using my speed,” Sanderson shared during an ESPN intermission interview. “I think I just got a bit lucky with a great play from my teammates getting the puck to the net.”