MONTREAL — Team USA, riding the surge of three first-period fights in the opening nine seconds, claimed a 3-1 win over Team Canada on Saturday at the Bell Centre. Matthew Tkachuk started the fisticuffs against Brandon Hagel. Brother Brady Tkachuk followed with a tilt against Sam Bennett. J.T. Miller completed the set by fighting Colton Parayko.
According to Brady Tkachuk, he and his brother were among the participants in a Saturday group chat that discussed the possibility of off-the-drop fisticuffs. Matthew Tkachuk started it by asking Hagel to fight.
Brady felt like he had no choice but to follow.
Jake Guentzel does not get involved in such confrontations. Nevertheless, he enjoyed it.
The Americans stifled the explosive Canadian offense by limiting the Canadians to 26 shots. Connor Hellebuyck, playing his signature technically sound game, stopped 25 shots, including a Connor McDavid high-slot chance in the third to keep it 2-1.
Team USA, with six points, has earned a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game on Thursday.
Source link
