In a game that lived up to the hype, Canada defeated the US 3-2 in overtime on a goal by Connor McDavid. The US fell behind 1-0 on a goal by Nathan McKinnon. They rallied to tie the game in the first on a tally by Brady Tkachuk. Jake Sanderson gave the US a 2-1 lead before Sam Bennett tied at two in the second period. After a scoreless third, Jordan Binnington made 3-4 ridiculous saves in overtime, setting up McDavid's heroics. Regular hockey is back tomorrow with the Rangers in Buffalo to face the Sabres at 5:30pm.
Game recap:
Lines:
Team USA
Guentzel-Matthews-Hughes
B. Tkachuk-Eichel-M. Tkachuk
Miller-Larkin-Boldy
Nelson-Trocheck-Kreider
A few thoughts:
1) The game was more wide-open than expected. Both sides struggled to connect on passes at times and several players wiped out in the respective offensive zones. Canada looked to just miss on a few odd-man rushes while the US was able to get the puck deep occasionally and cycle low to high. Heading into the locker room after the second period, you had the feeling the next goal would win.
After a third period that was played fairly carefully, with neither team wanting to make a mistake, the overtime was wide open. Binnington stoned Brady Tkachuk with a lunging glove save on a shot from the side, then snagged an Auston Matthews high rising shot that was not as dangerous as it first looked. Following an icing, Canada won the draw, Mitch Marner found space near the wall with no one near him. Marner fed a wide open McDavid in the slot and it was all she wrote.
2) The tournament was a resounding success. Concerns that the teams might not be fully into it or the fan bases would view it dispassionately were quickly debunked. For close to 10 days, all of the sporting fan base eyes turned to hockey. The NFL was over. The NBA all-star game was a poor substitute for the real thing. Spring training is great but the casual baseball fan is not turned on by it.
Hockey that was intense from the opening puck drop won over even the casual fan. The ratings showed this. Expressions from the sporting world that that other major sports need to have events like this while those who are hockey fans are trying to figure out how to jettison the All Star Game.
The physical play we saw is likely not able to be replicated annually. But the 2026 Olympics, 2028 World Cup and 2030 Olympics should provide the needed intensity. What is done in the off-years is to be determined, though we still will have the All-Star Game at UBS Arena next year prior to the Olympics break. The bigger key now is finding a way to build on this success and not lose the momentum gained.
Henderson in 1972. Gretzky to Mario rn 1987. Crosby in 2010. McDavid in 2025. What is it with big goals by Canada 15 years apart?
3) Rangers: not a stellar tournament for the Blueshirts on Team USA.Vincent Trocheck, as reported by Arthur Staple, suffered a broken finger against Sweden. We saw him shaking his hand after getting hit with the puck and heading to the locker room at the end of the first period. Trocheck came back for the second and third, but his minutes were limited the rest of the game. Similar against Canada, even though Matthew Tkachuk didn't play almost the whole second and third periods. We will see if Trocheck can play, and how effective he will be, with the injury. New York lacks depth down the middle following the Filip Chytil deal.
JT Miller was likely the best of the bunch, though he didn't have a great game. He was caught in the neutral zone on the tying goal, beaten to the puck by Mitch Marner, which created the rush. Miller made a phenomenal play late in regulation, backchecking to thwart a potential goal.
Chris Kreider, despite no Matthew Tkachuk the last two periods and Trocheck with limited minutes, only played 6:25. He did see a shift or two late in regulation but was basically stapled to the bench. Team USA' bottom six did not have a great tourney.
In the Athletic, Fluto Shinwaza summarized how Canada won. One point of focus was: Canadians exploit Adam Fox. We all have said that Fox did not have a good tourney. He was one of the first six selected to play and ended as one of those who may have a hard time making the Olympics team. Fox lacks size, which is okay, but he also lacks the foot speed to keep up, which was evident throughout.
Team USA tried to shelter Adam Fox on the No. 3 pair with Noah Hanifin. But the Canadians still targeted the right-shot defenseman in the second period leading up to the tying goal.
Fox tried to exit the zone with a long-distance pass up the ice. Sam Bennett intercepted the pass and started the counterattack.
Fox tried to gap up. But he took a long twirl, which allowed Bennett and Marner to gain the offensive zone with speed. Once Marner cut into the middle with the puck, Fox went with the forward. This allowed Marner to find a seam for Bennett on the left flank into the space Fox vacated. Bennett beat Hellebuyck, making the game 2-2. Through regulation, Bennett led all players with six shots on net.
Fox’s Olympic spot is not guaranteed given his lack of pace.
4) All four US players will travel to Buffalo. Not sure if Trocheck will play but Mika Zibanejad, who was under the weather, practiced today. Igor Shesterkin is back between the pipes. as he is healthy following his injury against Pittsburgh.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»