Brady and Matthew Tkachuk didn’t just play together—they dominated. The brothers came out swinging, hitting hard, scoring big, and putting on a show of sheer dominance in their first major-stage game together. Their chemistry was undeniable, and their physical, high-energy style set the tone as Team USA dismantled Finland 6-1 in the opening game of the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday night.
The Tkachuks each found the net twice, capitalizing on their time on the ice together. Their performance wasn’t just about goals—it was about attitude, energy, and making a statement. “That’s the way we play. It’s one of the reasons why we’re on the team,” said Matthew Tkachuk, fresh off a Stanley Cup championship and finishing the night with three points. “You don’t change your game. You play your identity. It’s up to us and the rest of the guys to play to our strengths. That’s one of them.”
From the first puck drop, Team USA set a tone of physical dominance. Jack Eichel sent Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov tumbling into the U.S. bench, while Brady Tkachuk bulldozed the towering 6-foot-6 Niko Mikkola with one of his game-high eight hits. Meanwhile, Matthew Tkachuk had some choice words for Patrik Laine before a faceoff, making it clear that the Americans were not here to play nice.
Matthew Tkachuk couldn’t hold back his praise for his younger brother, calling Brady “a beast.” Head coach Mike Sullivan agreed, adding that the brothers “just have a funny way of dragging us into the fight.” And fight they did, with every player on the roster stepping up to bring the heat.
The scoreboard may have made the game look like a runaway victory, but for the first two periods, space was hard to find and chances were few. The breakthrough came when Matt Boldy deflected a shot from his Minnesota Wild teammate Brock Faber late in the second period, giving Team USA a go-ahead goal. From there, the floodgates burst wide open.
Before many fans could even return from intermission, Matthew Tkachuk ripped a long shot past Finnish goaltender Juuse Saros just 15 seconds into the third period. Moments later, Jake Guentzel capitalized on another opportunity, and Brady Tkachuk hammered in a third goal within three minutes. In the blink of an eye, Finland found themselves buried under an avalanche of American firepower.
“The start of the third, it was—I don’t know how to say that—but we weren’t ready for that,” admitted Finland coach Antti Pennanen. He and his staff even considered pulling Saros, who had been solid for 40 minutes before the wheels fell off. By the time Matthew Tkachuk added another goal on the power play with just under nine minutes left, Bell Centre was booming with chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!”
On the Finnish side, the only bright moment came when late addition Henri Jokiharju managed to sneak one past Connor Hellebuyck at the 7:31 mark of the first period, briefly giving Finland a 1-0 lead. But that lead was short-lived, as Hellebuyck shut down every remaining attempt, finishing with 20 saves.
Saros, on the other hand, had a night to forget. He allowed six goals on 32 shots, and Finland may consider switching to Kevin Lankinen for their next game against Sweden. “Of course, we need to think about that,” Pennanen said. “It was a tough day for Juuse. He was really good the first 40 minutes, but I think we need to analyze this game and make those decisions tomorrow or Saturday.”
One major turning point in the game came from head coach Mike Sullivan’s tactical adjustments. Midway through the game, he shuffled his lines, moving Brady Tkachuk to the left wing alongside Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk, while shifting Kyle Connor to a unit with Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes. On the defensive end, Sullivan paired Noah Hanifin with Adam Fox and matched Jaccob Slavin with Brock Faber. The moves paid immediate dividends, sparking the American offensive explosion in the third period.
“We’ve been together for four days,” Eichel said. “He’s coached for quite a while. I think we’re all trying to find chemistry and get comfortable with each other. That could mean some changes in lines and pairings and whatnot. I think everyone was prepared when their number was called and helped contribute to the win.”
The electric atmosphere at Bell Centre wasn’t just fueled by Team USA’s explosive play—it was also stoked by the passionate, often hostile, crowd. Canadian fans, eager to root against their southern rivals, booed the U.S. anthem before the game and made sure to jeer Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews every time he touched the puck. But by the end, it was the American fans in the stands making their voices heard, chanting, “We want Canada!”
That wish will be granted soon enough. The 4 Nations Face-Off continues on Saturday, with Sweden and Finland squaring off at 1 p.m. EST, followed by the highly anticipated showdown between the United States and Canada at 8 p.m. EST.
For Brady Tkachuk, that matchup means everything. “I think it’s going to be the biggest game that I’ve ever played in my career,” he said. “We’ve been talking about that game especially. Really excited to experience it.”
With the Tkachuk brothers leading the charge, Team USA has sent a loud and clear message: they’re here to win, and they’re just getting started.
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