The USA-Canada championship game is the 4 Nations Face-Off final that people had expected.
The most-represented country in the NHL (Canada) vs. the second-most represented. Two two-time Stanley Cup-winning coaches behind the benches in the USA’s Mike Sullivan and Canada’s Jon Cooper. A Stanley Cup winner in net (Canada’s Jordan Binnington) vs. an award-winning goalie in the USA’s Connor Hellebuyck. Multiple MVPs and other award winners are on the rosters.
Plus, their first meeting in the round robin was intense, starting off with three fights in the first nine seconds of the 3-1 USA victory.
Here are 10 players who can make a difference in Thursday’s championship game (8 p.m. ET, ESPN):
USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck
He has allowed only two goals in two games and is the front-runner to win a second consecutive Vezina Trophy and third overall with a league-best six shutouts. If Canadian skaters can get past the stout U.S. defense, there’s a 6-foot-4 goaltender awaiting them.
Canada defenseman Cale Makar
He missed the first USA-Canada game with an illness. His mobility will make a difference in Canada’s attack this time. He’s the NHL’s top-scoring defenseman with 63 points and 26 power-play points. He has averaged 26 minutes in his two games.
Canada forward Sidney Crosby
Canada’s captain is 37 and is tied for the tournament lead with five points. He had a 26-game international winning streak before the loss to the USA. Crosby comes up big in big international games. He scored the overtime goal against the USA in the 2010 Olympics gold-medal game. He also scored in the 2014 Olympic final and was MVP of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He had a goal and assist in a must-win game against Finland.
Canada forward Connor McDavid
He scored a high-speed goal against the USA last week but USA defenseman Charlie McAvoy played a physical game against him after that. McAvoy is injured and the Americans will have to figure out how to shut McDavid down.
USA forward Matthew Tkachuk
He’s expected to be available to play after missing the Sweden game. Tkachuk had two goals in the opener and orchestrated a fight in the second game.
USA forward Brady Tkachuk
He left the Sweden game after crashing into the net. Like his brother, he has two goals, 11 shots and a fight. He has been throwing his body around in the tournament, including several big hits on Monday before his injury.
Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon
He had a two-goal game against Finland after being shut out by the USA. The NHL’s leading scorer and reigning MVP needs another big game in the final.
USA forward Jack Eichel
He’s centered the Tkachuks, starting in the later stages of the Finland game. If the brothers are affected by their injuries, Eichel will have to play a bigger role guiding the offense.
USA defenseman Zach Werenski
The NHL’s third-leading scorer among defensemen is tied with Crosby with five points in the tournament.
Canada goalie Jordan Binnington
He won Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final in Boston’s TD Garden. Can he pull off another championship win in the arena? He has made big saves but also has let in a few soft goals. Canada was breezing against Finland before the Finns scored three quick goals to cut their deficit to 4-3.