Also: Brock Nelson discusses the ins, the outs, the what-have-yous of his free agency status.
Well, what do you think? The first round of the 4 Nations Face-Off is complete, with Canada beating Sweden in overtime (really? they’re doing 3-on-3?) in an apparently thrilling, high-paced game that I didn’t see.
The next night, Team Tkachuk, or rather Team USA took it to Finland in the third period of what became a blowout. Finland kept it close till the third, but the many U.S. weapons always looked like they were ready to erupt.
Brock Nelson actually hit the crossbar for the first great U.S. chance, but our Islanders representative in this tournament is a secondary player to the top six the U.S. happily runs out there. Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes and the Tkachuks all looked like they were having way too much fun.
Some intense and potentially pivotal games in this short tourney will come Saturday, with a double-header of bitter rivalries, USA vs. Canada and Sweden vs. Finland.
Are you entertained?
Random News
- Brock Nelson discusses his uncertain future with the Islanders. [Sportsnet | Newsday]
- Anthony Duclair says South Florida left an impact on him, and he’s happy to build dry ice rinks in what he considers his home. [NHL]
- Noah Dobson switches agents, ahead of key RFA contract talks. [THN]
- Evidently there is an Ilya Sorokin debate. [THN]
- The NHL and NHLPA are psyched to get back on the World Cup cycle. [NHL]
- The USNTDP has become “a factory.” As intended. [NHL]
- The U.S. players at the 4 Nations have the Gaudreaus in their hearts. [NHL]
- Just because there’s a pause in the NHL schedule and a semi-international tournament going on doesn’t mean teams can’t make trades of random AHLers. [TSN]