Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and assisted on one of Brady Tkachuk’s two markers as the United States exploded for four goals in the third period to dispatch Finland 6-1 in the first game of the 4 Nations Face-Off for both squads.
Winnipeg Jets keeper Connor Hellebuyck made 20 saves and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski finished with three assists.
Henri Jokiharju’s tumbling wrister, assisted by Mikael Granlund and Olli Maatta, from the right circle, off the rush opened the scoring 7:31 into the first period. Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen started the play off by moving the puck up to Granlund.
Brady Tkachuk tied the game 2:50 later. After failing to cleanly take Matt Boldy’s crossing pass, Tkachuk was able to whack the loose puck in off of goaltender Juuse Saros. The second assist on the goal went to Werenski, who held the puck in at the right point before going down low to Boldy.
Boldy scored the go-ahead goal with 2:56 left in the middle frame by setting up in the slot and deflecting Minnesota Wild teammate Brock Faber’s shot through the Saros’ wickets, with the second helper credited to Kyle Connor.
Matthew Tkachuk made it 3-1 fifteen seconds into the third. After taking a drop pass from Jake Guentzel, Werenski crossed to Tkachuk at the right point. His long wrister caught the stick of Niko Mikkola, fooling Saros, whose glove came up empty. Maatta was off for hooking Auston Matthews.
Guentzel extended the lead eleven seconds after the power-play goal. He scored on the rush from the left circle, finishing after receiving a pass from Matthews. New Jersey’s Jack Hughes drew the secondary assist.
Brady Tkachuk got his second goal of the game at the three-minute mark, going to the backhand to beat Saros. The assists went to Jack Eichel and big brother Matthew.
Matthew Tkachuk completed the scoring by deflecting Werenski’s shot from the point into Saros’ leg pad and then firing in the rebound with 8:47 left in the game. Eichel picked up another assist on the Americans’ second power-play goal, which came with Joel Armia serving a roughing minor.
It was a huge night for the Tkachuk brothers, who combined for five points and became the first siblings to each score multiple goals in the same NHL international tournament game
As for the Panthers’ Finnish contigent. Aleksander Barkov registered a team-high five shots and was credited with one hit. Anton Lundell had two shots on goal and two hits. Eetu Luostarinen was credited with one shot and two hits. Niko Mikkola blocked a shot and had two hits. Barkov, Lundell and Luostarinen each went minus-one, while Mikkola finished with a minus-two rating.
The four teams will get today off before resuming play on Saturday. Finland and Sweden will play at 1 p.m. and the United States and Canada will go at 8 p.m. in the highly-anticipated nightcap.