2025 Four Nations Face Off Team USA @ Team Finland

If you were looking forward to some great hockey amongst the greats from Team Canada, Team Sweden, Team Finland, and Team USA, you've been entertained so far. I know I have been! Last night's overtime thriller where Team Canada beat Team Sweden 4-3 was just the cusp of competition we learned early into tonight's Team USA and Team Finland game. Team Finland would take an early lead in period one at 7:31 with a goal from H, Joklharju. M. Granlund and O. Maatta would each earn their first assists of the tournament. Not long after, at 10:21m B. Tkachuk would tie the game for Team USA. M. Boldy and Z. Werenski would add their first assists of the tournament! I'm especially happy for Z. Werenski as I'm covering Team USA because of him being from the Columbus Blue Jackets and our only player in the tournament. The opening period would close with a 1-1 tie. 

Period two would see just one goal and it would come from Team USA. M. Boldy would score his first goal, giving him a 1-1-2 night at least at 17:04. B. Farber and K. Connor would each notch their first assists of the tournament. In the end, Team USA would have a 2-1 lead as they headed into the third period at Team Finland.   

Team USA would extend their lead quickly in period three. M. Tkachuk would equal his brother with his first goal of the tournament at 0:15. Jackets' Z. Werenski would add his second assist in the opening game for Team USA with the primary on this goal while J. Guentzel would add his first with the secondary. Seconds later, at 0:26, J. Guentzel would add his first goal of the tournament. So, yes, in 0:11 J. Guentzel would have a 1-1-2 night at least! A/ Mathews and J. Hughes would each add their first assist on this goal. Team USA would take their lead to 5-1 with B. Tkachuk's second goal tonight at 3:00. J. Eichel and M. Tkachuk would each add their first assists tonight. But, wait, there's more as M. Tkachuk couldn't let his brother have one more goal than him tonight, so he had to score another at 11:13 on the powerplay! This marks his second goal tonight. Z. Werenski would add another assist, his third of the evening on the primary. The secondary assist would become J. Eichel's second assist tonight. So, that takes us to an outstanding 6-1 Team USA lead. There was plenty of time to play, but that time would quickly evaporate thanks to Team USA's skilled keep-away efforts. Team USA would go on to win their first game in the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Tournament 6-1. 

Z. Werenski would finish tonight 0-3-3. He would have 21:45 total ice time to make this happen. He'd also have 1 shot on Team Finland's net, 1 block, 2 penalty minutes, and a +2. Not a bad night at all #8!   

Star 1: M. Tkachuk with a 2-1-3. 

Star 2: B. Tkachuk with a 2-0-2. 

Star 3: M. Boldy with a 1-1-2. 

All four teams will have tomorrow off before Team Sweden hosts Team Finland at 1:00 p.m. EST on Saturday followed by Team Canada hosting Team USA at 8:00 p.m. EST. Check your local listings for the channel. 

Special Note: It has been bittersweet to see Guy Gaudreau with Team USA as the hockey world continues to embrace the family as we continue to grieve the loss of Johnny and Mathew Gaudreau. The empty stall with Johnny's #13 jersey for Team USA was a beautiful tribute and a reminder that no matter how much time passes, his impact on this game will never be forgotten throughout the world. My heart still goes out to the family, and it always will. What I have seen from the hockey community since this tragedy has only made me prouder to be a part of it. 

 








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What the Ranger's Elimination From the 2024 NHL Playoffs Means for the Columbus Blue Jackets Acquired 2026 Draft Pick

It's been an interesting 2024 NHL Playoffs already. This was captivating by watching the divide among the 5th Line fans who chose to watch the playoffs and cheer on former Blue Jackets. As the Eastern Conference Final was set, we saw Sergei Bobrovsky on one end of the ice as a Florida Panther. On the other end of the ice, representing the New York Rangers, stood three former Jackets, Artemi Panarin, Alexander Wennberg, and Jack Roslovic. Due to the final player I listed with the New York Rangers end of the ice, this playoff series had implications for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Trade the organization did, sending Jack Roslovic to the New York Rangers, was for a conditional Fourth Round Draft Pick in the future 2026 NHL Draft. The condition to this pick was that if the Rangers advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Final 2024, the Draft pick would increase to the third round. With the Florida Panthers eliminating the New York Rangers tonight in Game 6 (the final was 2-1), The B...
Read more

Brenden Gaunce, Nick Blankenburg, and Jake Bean Sign NHL Deals Away From Columbus Blue Jackets

The 2024 Trade Deadline gives and takes away every season. Today, the Columbus Blue Jackets signed Sean Monahan to a deal that will last five years and give him a 5.5 Million AAV. This was the brighter side of the day as several Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters players signed elsewhere, including a favorite of mine.  The 30-year-old Center, Brenden Gaunce, left us to join the Minnesota Wild. He agreed to a deal that will go through the 2025-26 NHL Season. He was in Columbus last season for 24 games and had 4 points with an even 2 goals and 2 assists. I have yet to see what his contract is valued at, but nevertheless, I wish him good luck with the Wild.  Jake Bean had the 5th Line divided. Some saw value in him staying, while others wanted him traded months ago. He wasn't traded today but signed to become a Calgary Flame. This contract will take him through the 2025-26 NHL Season like Brenden Gaunce. It'll pay him roughly 1.75 million each season. Appearing in 72 ga...
Read more

Rest in Peace, Johnny and Mathew Gaudreau- Part One

I've learned something over the roughly two and a half weeks since we lost Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Mathew; I will never be ready to write this blog. I've been avoiding this because my words seem hollow and empty to me; like anything I could say would be redundant and not enough. August 29th, 2024 will forever be burned into my brain alongside July 4th, 2021, the date we lost goaltender, Matiss Kivlenieks, in a firework accident when he used himself to shield others. To say this franchise and its fans have suffered too many tragedies since I started covering the team in May 2020 is an understatement. When we lost 'Kivi' I never imagined doing this again, but I am, and I won't lie to you because I never have; I hate that I have to do this again. My heart is shattered, especially for the Gaudreau family, and I don't think I'll ever find all the pieces. The hockey community will forever be changed by this tragedy. None of us want to accept that this nig...
Read more