In a game that decided who got to annex whose country and who is the ultimate true champion of hockey in North America; once again it was Canada reigning supreme over the USA 3-2 in OT at the TD Garden in Boston last night.
If only there was some indicator of how this was going to go. If only there was a telltale sign that the US squad didn’t have the intestinal fortitude needed to get the W in the big moment.
Hmm, I think this is the moment where I tell you I told you so.
It all boils down to leadership and the US captains were:
Charlie McAvoy – read the lineup card for the final game (yay) and was a game-wrecker in game 2 but couldn’t suit up for the championship game due to a shoulder infection that could cost him the rest of the Boston Bruins season
Matthew Tkachuk – set the tone in game 2 and was dominant with baby bro Brady until a rumored groin injury kept him out of the game from mid 2nd period on.
Austin Matthews – looked completely disinterested late and woefully out of position on the GWG. Was put on a line with Jack Hughes and Brock Nelson to give the top lines a breather?
Look at how Sidney Crosby conducted himself? After Canada lost to USA, at the next Canadian practice Crosby took time to talk to every single player on the sheet during the workout. I didn’t see any video of Matthews even talking to his own guys during game play!
And if we’re going to have a Matthews/McDavid debate like the Sid/Ovi debate? Please..
I’d blow up the whole team for USA. Make Brady the captain and Larkin (or Jack Eichel) and McAvoy his alternates. I’d cut Chris Kreider, Jack Hughes, Brock Nelson and Noah Hanifin. I’d put Adam Fox on the 3rd pair and hypnotize Connor Hellebuyck that any title game is a mid February regular season NHL game. I’d get JT Miller on a line between the Tkachuk brothers and put Matthews in a bottom 6 role with limited minutes – especially if it’s going to be a meaningful game in Boston! Let Eichel cook as the 2nd line center and give him Jake Guentzel and (a healthy) Kyle Connor. I’d shoot David Quinn into the sun – how is this guy still behind a bench? I’d try to clone Jaccob Slavin while I’m at it. And get Tage Thompson on the phone!
I will say that I was wrong when Ked and I talked about this on the podcast. This tourney was awesome! Every player bought into this one and was playing to win (maybe not the US captain, but I digress). From the goal song to the opening 9 seconds of the first game, this was fantastic.
As my boy Jenkins said in a group text about Bettman: “Starve the wolves for 12 years and they’ll eat ANYTHING when you give them scraps” the kid is a wordsmith, but this was waaaaay more than scraps.
Per reports Gary Bettman and Marty Walsh announced a 2028 World Cup of Hockey to be held in-season with 8 teams. The goal will be to have a best on best every 2 years with the World Cup and the Olympics. I will say that I hope at the Governor’s meeting someone suggests scrapping the All-Star Game in favor of this format.
In the meantime I’ll be learning the history of my (now) fellow provinces.
You can read more about Brownie in his bio down below or follow him on:
Twitter: @abrow28
IG/Threads: @a_brow28
Bluesky: @abrow28.bsky.social
The Morning Skate 
USA as an 11th province is not a bad idea. I would call for the blue US states to be part of provinces and red states to be part of territories and become a 4th territory. I think it’s a good idea.
LikeLike