MONTREAL — Auston Matthews was greeted by boos at the same decibel level of cheers for Canada’s Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off opener Wednesday. He was given a taste of how he and his countrymates will be received in their game against Finland Thursday, and he welcomed it.
“We play here quite a bit and obviously it’s always a great atmosphere. I think it’s just something you embrace and have fun with,” the Toronto Maple Leafs captain said after Team USA’s final tune-up on Thursday morning. “Obviously, if you’re getting booed, you’re doing something right. So, in the end, these are moments, game situations that you kind of dream of playing in, so I don’t think there’s really any issue with that.”
Charlie McAvoy saw it but didn’t hear it.
The American defenceman was calling home with the sound on his TV muted as Matthews appeared on his screen. When informed on Thursday morning of the royal booing his captain received, he said, “I love that.”
As a Boston Bruin, McAvoy has grown accustomed to that treatment when he visits Montreal. He was also a member of the 2017 U.S. World Junior team that was booed mercilessly throughout its time in the city.
“We’ve been here before,” McAvoy said before sharing how excited he was about being here now.
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4 Nations Face-Off on Sportsnet
The inaugural edition of the 4 Nations Face-Off is here with the top players from Canada, Sweden, Finland and the United States going head-to-head in the highly anticipated best-on-best event. Watch all the games on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
On Wednesday, he laughed off the suggestion this round robin would be like a glorified NHL All-Star weekend of sorts — that the intensity wouldn’t ratchet up to Olympic or Stanley Cup Playoff level — and watching the drama of the Canada and Sweden game only reinforced his opinion.
“I thought that was a crazy statement to begin with,” the 27-year-old said. “You’re talking about guys that are competitive by nature, I don’t know what part of that wouldn’t be high-stakes. I didn’t believe it when I heard it. I thought that (game) was a great answer to it (Wednesday) night. What a hockey game that was.”
Matthews saw it live and felt the competitive juices coursing through his veins —especially seeing Crosby, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon combine on the opening goal just minutes after he was greeted so hostilely by the fans.
“Just as a hockey fan looking at it, it’s pretty cool to see those three play together, connecting on a goal,” Matthews said. “Some of the three best players in the game today and that we’ve ever seen, and it’s always fun to watch good hockey like that.”
To play in it is something this American team has been itching for since the last time best-on-best competition was held.
Matthews was in Team North America colours for the 2016 World Cup.
So was Jack Eichel, who said he’s been looking forward to wearing the Stars and Stripes on this stage for as long as he can remember.
“I don’t think you need any extra motivation,” Eichel said. “It’s been a while since we’ve done this, so I definitely didn’t need to watch last night to get motivated tonight.”
Finland’s Patrik Laine watched from pre-game ceremony through the winning goal by Mitch Marner and came away feeling like his unheralded team will gain an important player on their side when its game against USA begins Thursday.
“Fire up the crowd early, and hopefully they’ll be on our side,” the current Montreal Canadien said. “I think I’m pretty confident they’ll be on our side if you look at the Canadian fans over here. I’m not too worried about it.”
Finland will need all the help it can get.
Up against arguably the greatest collection of American talent ever assembled on a hockey rink, this team will have its hands full. Even more so without top defenceman Miro Heiskanen — who suffered a major injury in a game his Dallas Stars were playing against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 28 — and with a decimated blue line also missing Rasmus Ristolainen and Jani Hakanpaa.
Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov said his team will lean into its national identity to overcome the losses.
“(Pride) is why Finland has been having success on the international stage,” Barkov said. “That’s how we want to play. We want to play together as a five-man unit everywhere. Offensively, defensively, we give everything we have, and that needs to be our mindset every single shift we go on the ice. That needs to be our identity and our strength.”
If the general assumption is that won’t be enough against this loaded American squad, Laine shrugged it off.
“I feel like we’re always doubted,” the 26-year-old said. “I don’t think anybody in that locker room really cares what you guys are saying. We know what we can do out there. Nothing better than proving people wrong. We like to do that. We’re happy with where we’re at.”
Team USA is thrilled about where it is, regardless of the reception it’s bound to receive on Thursday.
“Today is our day,” said Matthews.
We’ll see if it’s his night, come 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
TEAM USA
Kyle Connor-Jack Eichel-Matthew Tkachuk
Jake Guentzel-Auston Matthews-Jack Hughes
Matt Boldy-J.T. Miller-Brady Tkachuk
Brock Nelson-Vincent Trocheck-Dylan Larkin
Jaccob Slavin-Adam Fox
Zach Werenski-Charlie McAvoy
Noah Hanifin-Brock Faber
Connor Hellebuyck starts
Jake Oettinger
TEAM FINLAND
Artturi Lehkonen-Aleksander Barkov-Mikko Rantanen
Roope Hintz-Sebastian Aho-Patrik Laine
Teuvo Teravainen-Erik Haula-Joel Armia
Eetu Luostarinen-Anton Lundell-Mikael Granlund
Niko Mikkola-Esa Lindell
Olli Maatta-Henri Jokiharju
Uuro Vaakanainen-Nikolas Matinpalo
Juuse Saros starts
Kevin Lankinen
Esa Lindell better be ready
The last player named to the Finnish team was Ottawa Senators defenceman Nikolas Matinpalo. He was an injury replacement for Ristolainen, and he’s playing in favour of Juuso Valimaki, who has 249 more games of NHL experience.
Just how much Matinpalo will play is the big question.
Finland will have to rely on its best three defencemen here, and mainly on its top one — Heiskanen’s Dallas teammate, Esa Lindell.
We asked Lindell what the most was that he’s ever played in a pro game, and he said, “Once or twice, maybe 30 (minutes)?”
If we had to set the over/under on Lindell’s ice time at 30, what would you bet on him playing against Team USA?
We’ll take the over.
USA coach Mike Sullivan on the Tkachuk factor
“They’re two of the better power forwards in the league,” Sullivan said about Matthew and Brady Tkachuk. “They drag their respective teams into the fight, so to speak, and nobody did that better than their dad. When I played with Keith, he was one of the best power forwards in the game. These guys are following right in his footsteps.”
The Finns are going to be hearing the Tkachuk brothers’ footsteps a lot in Thursday’s game.
There were 41 hits exchanged between Canada and Sweden Wednesday. We figure the Tkachuks help boost that count for this USA-Finland showdown.
Last words go to Barkov
On Montreal Canadiens and Team Finland legend Saku Koivu:
“I think he’s one of those guys who set the standard,” Barkov said. “Obviously, not just him, but a lot of different guys like his brother, Mikko, Teemu Selanne, all those big captains who have been in the Finnish national teams. They set the standard for the Finnish national team — how we play, how we approach tournaments and wearing the Finnish jersey — and we respect that, and we’re really honoured to be a continuation of that.”
On Koivu’s status in Montreal, Barkov said, “I’ve seen the videos, and I see him on the walls here all the time. I was a big fan of hockey growing up and I know how big he was here. I for sure wouldn’t be surprised if he would be here and get the same kind of ovation that Mario got (Wednesday). But still, I know how big he is, and how big he is in Finland, too.”
