Scout’s Analysis: Observations from 4 Nations Face-Off Montreal games
Jason Bukala provides some observations from the first set of games in Montreal for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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Every major league sport around the world has a city and venue that reeks of history and unwavering fan support. Soccer has teams like Manchester United and Real Madrid. Baseball has New York and the Yankees. The NFL has the Green Bay Packers and legendary Lambeau Field.
We are fortunate to have some rabid fan bases and outstanding arenas in Canada, but the pageantry and enthusiasm the city of Montreal provides when hosting an international event like the 4 Nations Face-Off is second to none. The tournament now moves to another Original Six city. Boston is on the clock to attempt to carry on the enthusiastic atmosphere the teams were fortunate to play in front of in Montreal.
Here are some of my observations from the first set of games in Montreal:
GOALTENDING
• Canada has made the decision, so far, to ride Jordan Binnington as the starter. He’s made some spectacular stops in the first two games versus Sweden and USA but allowing at least one bad goal in each game isn’t a recipe for success. I appreciate how he has battled to make saves after allowing a goal like Jake Guentzel’s Saturday night, but the margins are thin in a tournament like this and he was outplayed by his counterpart in Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Binnington has allowed five goals on 48 shots so far.
• Finland turned to Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen for their rivalry game versus Sweden after Juuse Saros struggled in the Finns’ opening game versus USA. Lankinen provided just enough stability for the Finns in their overtime victory. He will, no doubt, be the starter versus Canada on Monday.
• Lankinen is one of the feel-good stories of the NHL season. He was signed as a free agent late in the summer by the Canucks and has provided Vancouver with generally solid results. He’s closing in on career high in games played at the NHL level and posted a 19-8-7 record, 2.53 GAA and .905 save percentage. He won’t be an easy out for Canada on Monday.
• Hellebuyck started the tournament by allowing a routine shot from the flank, off the stick of Finnish defenceman Henri Jokiharju, who beat him under his blocker arm. It was an auspicious start to the tournament for Hellebuyck, but he shut the door the rest of the way versus the Finns and only allowed one goal versus Canada. Hellebuyck has stopped 40 of the last 41 shots he has faced. He’s dialled in, which isn’t great news for whoever ends up playing the Americans in the championship game next Thursday.
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Canada takes on Finland in 4 Nations Face-Off on Sportsnet
Canada and Finland look to book their ticket to the 4 Nations Face-Off final. Watch the game on Sportsnet starting at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT.
THRUST INTO ACTION
• Both Thomas Harley (Dallas Stars) and Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Flyers) made their tournament debuts versus Team USA and generally held their own.
• Harley impressed me with his overall approach. He didn’t shy away from playing the game the same way he does in Dallas. He was active up ice, pinched down to extend plays, walked the offensive blue line to open up shooting and passing lanes and engaged defensively. He skated 25 shifts for a total of 18:17 TOI and was credited with two shots on goal and three shot blocks. Harley had no issues keeping up with the pace of the game and used his stature and long reach to his advantage.
• Sanheim clocked in for 15:01 TOI, including 1:34 on the PK. He was generally efficient with the puck on his stick, moving pucks quickly and accurately without taking too much risk. His size (six-foot-four, 222 pounds) and skating ability were on full display. He kept up with the play and defended from his crease to the corners, and back, on time. He was, unfortunately, on the ice attempting to defend the two-on-one that led to Dylan Larkin‘s goal in the second period, but he took away the pass effectively. Larkin gets credit for ripping the puck inside the far post to beat Binnington.
• With Cale Makar likely to return to the lineup Monday, it means Harley will be pushed to the side again and Sanheim will remain in Canada’s lineup. The Canadian coaching staff don’t actually have a choice — Sanheim was named to the team ahead of Harley. Even if they wanted to dress Harley ahead of Sanheim, they aren’t allowed to under the rules of the event.
NEED MORE
• Canada’s Sam Reinhart has, through two games, skated over 33 minutes. He registered three shots on goal versus Sweden but didn’t direct a puck on net versus the Americans. Canada needs him to find pucks and get more involved offensively. I had a hard time finding him in the game versus the USA.
• Conversely, Brad Marchand played only 8:23 versus Team USA, but he still managed to direct two shots on goal and was much more visible in a limited role.
• Sam Bennett played even less than Marchand. Bennett rolled over the boards for only 7:41, but he had a spirited fight versus Brady Tkachuk, directed three shots on goal and was credited with four hits.
It might be time for Canada to shuffle the deck a bit for Monday’s game against the Finns. They had a very difficult time getting to the inside against Team USA. Perhaps more muscle on the wings of Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon will open up more space to operate offensively.
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WILY VET
Drew Doughty clocked in for 21:15 TOI versus the Americans and was deployed in all situations. He isn’t as fleet a foot as the majority of the players in the tournament, but he makes up for it with his hockey sense.
Doughty made adjustments to his game after Canada’s first outing versus Sweden. He managed the puck very well and was responsible for the primary assist on McDavid’s goal. He gapped up in the neutral zone to force the Americans to dump the puck deep. Once he had it on his stick, he hit McDavid in stride through the neutral zone. It’s a small sequence but a timely one that involved more than just the pass itself.
COMPLETE PLAYER
Team USA defenceman Brock Faber is a player I have been fond of for several years, dating back to his time at USA’s USNTDP in Plymouth, Mich. He doesn’t jump out all the time, but he’s a complete player who’s deployed in all situations.
Faber is only 22 years young, but he averages 25 minutes per game playing for the Minnesota Wild and has carried over the same level of responsibility with Team USA at the 4 Nations. Saturday night against Canada, he logged his usual amount of ice time, was tasked with shutting down Canada’s top forwards and was on the ice when Canada had the goalie out attempting to tie the game late.
Faber has already signed a long-term extension with the Wild. He’s in the final year of his entry-level contract. His new contract begins next season and doesn’t expire until 2033. His $8.5-million cap hit will age nicely for the Wild and likely end up being a bargain, especially with the cap rising aggressively in the coming years.
