Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk Representing USA with Pride at 4 Nations Face-Off – The Hockey Writers 4 Nations Face-off Latest News, Analysis & More

The Florida Panthers, with the exception of eight players, are patiently waiting for the conclusion of the 4 Nations Face-Off. The defending Stanley Cup champions are first in the Atlantic Division, with a record of 34-20-3 and 71 points. They will not return to action until Saturday, Feb. 22, when they take on the Seattle Kraken.

In the meanwhile, forward Matthew Tkachuk has been excellent through two games for Team USA at the tournament. Unfortunately, he missed their game on Monday against Team Sweden when they lost by a score of 2-1. However, he is expected to suit up for the championship game against Canada on Thursday night. He’s been a key factor in getting his fellow countrymen to their big night.

The United States of “Tkachuk”

Against Team Finland, Matthew showed why he was given the “A” for the Americans. He scored two goals and assisted on a goal by his brother, Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, as his team walloped the Finns 6-1. As a result, he was named the game’s First Star.

Against Team Canada, he did not register a point. But, he set the tone for his countrymen by dropping the gloves with Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel immediately after puck drop. That was the first of three fights in the span of mere seconds to start the game.

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Along with three shots on goal, his team took down Canada, 3-1, to clinch a spot at the 4 Nations championship game on Thursday night.

Tkachuk Stirring the Pot with Canada

In his postgame interview, Tkachuk talked about his group chat with his brother Brady and New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller, and that they wanted to open Saturday’s round-robin game against Team Canada with a bang.

“Yeah, there was a little discussion during the day,” Tkachuk said. “There was a group chat going on today. Still slept like a baby, though. Just kind of reaffirmed that we would do that.”

Matthew Tkachuk on opening up his game against Team Canada by dropping the gloves on Feb. 15

But his dance partner Brandon Hagel was not a fan. He had some venom-coated words not just for Tkachuk, but for Team USA as a whole.

“I think we’re out there playing for the flag, not the cameras. That’s a part of Canada that we have in there. We don’t need to initiate anything. We don’t have any group chats going on,”

Brandon Hagel on the upcoming Championship Game against Team USA

Although Matthew was catching strays, he shrugged it off. However, not without words for Hagel and Team Canada.

“Well, I mean, maybe their team doesn’t like each other then if they don’t have group chats. …”

Matthew Tkachuk on Brandon Hagel’s comments

This is setting up a dramatic finish for the 4 Nations tournament, and the entire hockey world will be watching.

Is Tkachuk Ready for the Intensity?

Tkachuk has been in a ton of high-stakes situations over the last couple of years, with back-to-back Eastern Conference and Stanley Cup Final appearances. In those situations, he’s won three of four. But this is a day he’s circled on his calendar for the past nine years.

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This is the first time since the World Cup of Hockey in 2016 that the NHL’s best have come together to represent their homeland. Tkachuk intends to make his mark not just in this tournament but in international competitions overall.