NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 14, 2025
Team USA thumps Finland in the 4 Nations Face-Off, a potential replacement for sidelined Canadian defenseman Shea Theodore is revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
NHL.COM: Brady and Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and Zach Werenski collected three assists to lead the United States to a 6-1 victory over Finland. Matthew also collected an assist to finish the night with three points.
Team USA forwards Matthew and Brady Tkachuk (NHL.com).
Finland opened the scoring with a first-period goal by Henri Jokiharju but Brady tied the game midway through the frame. Matt Boldy’s second-period goal proved to be the game-winner.
The Americans blew it open in the third period with Matthew Tkachuk scoring 15 seconds into the period and Jake Guentzel picking up his first of the tournament 11 seconds later. Guentzel and Boldy finished with a goal and an assist as the Americans outshot the Finns 32-21.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the first time the Tkachuks played together in a meaningful game. They became the first brothers to score multiple goals in an NHL international tournament game.
The Tkachuk’s performance overshadowed Werenski’s, as he led the Americans in ice time (21:45). This game also marked Guentzel’s debut in international play.
Finland will face Sweden on Saturday at 1 PM ET while Team USA faces Canada at 8 PM ET. Both games will be held at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The Americans lead the tournament with three points based on their regulation win. Canada is second with two points following their overtime win over Sweden on Wednesday. Sweden has one point for their overtime loss.
RG.ORG: Brady Tkachuk is looking forward to Saturday’s game against Canada. “Well, I think it’s gonna be the biggest game I’ve ever played in my career,” he said. “So I’m really looking forward to that.
SPORTSNET: Large sections of the crowd at the Bell Centre booed the American national anthem ahead of Thursday’s game between the United States and Finland. “I didn’t like it, and that’s all I got,” said Matthew Tkachuk in his post-game press conference.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fans in several Canadian cities booed the American anthem in several recent NHL games since US President Donald Trump recently announced tariffs on Canadian goods while talking about annexing the country and turning it into the 51st American state.
Booing the American anthem understandably provides the opportunity for Canadian hockey fans to express their anger and frustration at Trump publicly. The American players aren’t to blame for their president’s actions but they’re bearing the brunt of the vitriol.
The booing made some American players uncomfortable but it hasn’t adversely affected their performance. Some may be using it as inspiration to elevate their play.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore is week-to-week with an upper-body injury suffered Wednesday in Canada’s 4-3 overtime win over Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars defenseman Thomas Harley is reportedly heading to Boston to serve as a standby defenseman for Canada. He will not be allowed to participate in team meetings or formal skates unless another Canadian defenseman becomes sidelined before the tournament’s conclusion.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The tournament shifts to Boston after Saturday’s games in Montreal for its final two days next Monday (Feb. 17) and Thursday (Feb. 20).
RG.ORG: Team Canada forwards Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon expressed their views on the 3-on-3, 10-minute overtime format during their game against Sweden. NHL overtime periods are typically five minutes for regular-season games but the 4 Nations overtime format is seen as a test run by the league for tweaking its regular-season format.
McDavid was an enthusiastic supporter of the format. “I think it’s a great kind of trial run,” he said. “Something I think the players liked, the fans like it. It felt a little more like it was in our hands.”
MacKinnon said he’d prefer a seven-minute format, citing how exhausted he was in the OT against Sweden. “I can’t believe I look off Connor (McDavid) on that two-on-one, honestly, but I could barely see, I was so tired coming off that rush,” said MacKinnon. “I was happy when Marner scored, because I didn’t have much left to give. So five-to-seven would be good.”
Since there’s no cure for stupidity, remove the opportunity to boo the wrong people for someone else’s stupidity by dropping the playing of the anthems at these sporting events.
I’ve been saying for years that there’s no reason to play anthems before a game. But unfortunately stopping it would cause more of an uproar by opportunists than it would be worth. After the 9/11 attacks, MLB started playing God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch. It continues over 20 years later. A little while back an unnamed team executive told a news outlet that there’s no reason to continue with God Bless America after all these years but that everyone’s afraid to stop it.
I have always hated the useless automatic performance of national anthems. Makes zero sense.
Two “American” teams play and it’s the US anthem even though it’s majority Canadians on the ice. Therefore…meaningless.
Play it for whomever wins the Gold Medal.
Regular NHL…don’t play it at all. It’s shirts against shirts of opposing cities with international rosters…makes no sense.
Something easily gone unnoticed in last night’s game is the jersey number on Patrik Laine.
He’s worn #29 throughout his career and it’s retired in Montreal (Ken Dryden) so he wears #92 for the Habs.
He wore 92 last night, it appears he has an affinity for the city and sees his future as a Hab.
The booing isn’t directed at the US players and most everybody is aware of that, the overall discomfort comes from a potus reviving the “ugly american”
Lane Hutson is wildly cheered in Montreal.
Saturday’s Canada US game should be epic! Canada s undeniable talent is awesome and the Tkachuk brothers are reveling in dragging their teammates into the fight!Very unfortunate injury to Theodore,a great player in a loaded Canadian lineup!The goalie that plays the best could be the difference in this game!
Those Tkachuk boys certainly show up to play
It’s interesting with MacKinnons comment, as per his fatigue in OT
US goaltending is elite and could or will be a concern for the Canadian team
Meaningful games effect the standings. This is an exhibition tournament and meaningless. Shea Theodore has already paid the price to satisfy ownerships greed. If Connor MC David, Nathan McKinnon or another superstar gets injured in this meaningless tournament, you’ll hear screams to immediately shut this down. Save international tournaments for the Olympics.
Agree 100% … it would also reduce the number of back-to-back games in the season.
Totally this
I love this tournament. I am an Oiler fan and if Conor gets hurt playing I am OK with that. It’s no different imo if he would get hurt playing the sharks. I want to see more of the best on best and the players seemingly do as well.
I have a different take on this Paul and I luv it too 1Oilerfan. I don’t think this is all about owners greed, not even mostly about it. The players really wanted an opportunity to play for their country, after missing multiple Olympics. It was even an issue in the CBA negotiations. That seems pretty obvious by how they are playing doesn’t it?
Listen to their interviews, they’re flippin’ pumped to do this.
Are NHL owners making $ on it, of course, it’s a capitalist system. So unless you want governments running the pros sports kinda how it’s gonna work.
Lots of fans are into it, and it will only grow as we move along this tourney. The biggest rivalry in hockey is now Canada vs USA, if they both make it to the final, it will be must see TV in both countries, which is obviously great for the NHL and players, who share revenue.
Totally agree, this tournament is interrupting (and for Vegas may ruin) the NHL stretch run.
All for a made up, 1 time tournament that is missing some of the worlds best players (Leon, Pasta, etc) playing for a no-name trophy that everyone will forget about in 2 weeks.
Are people watching? Sure, because there is no other alternative hockey to watch.
But I’d much rather be watching NHL stretch run games right now.
The issue for the American’s will be the speed. If the Fins had just kept skating they would have kept it close. They kept taking penalties when they stopped moving their feet.
One thing commented on alot from the Sweden game was the lack of hitting and the speed. They go hand in hand. You try and hit a guy like McKinnon, or Crosby or McDavid…or marner even? AND MISS….they’re gone….. American’s better sharpen their skates.
George I’m with you. No more anthems until people can be mature enough to stop using them as political weapons of triggered outrage OR they stop picking people who’s voices don’t lend themselves to anthem singing. I don’t know what that was singing the Canadian anthem but I’m glad montreal fans drowned her out. Good grief. Did anyone even “sound check” that beforehand? Play the recording of Ginette Renot….and if you don’t know. I’m english. And I can’t watching this without getting chills.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBxTsJ1XiqM
As an American, I don’t blame the Canadian people for Booing the US National Anthem. Our president is an embarrassment to our country and the world. And for him to be so audacious to think that he can buy any country he wants is even more embarrassing.
You heard this here first…. but I would not be at all surprised if, by the time the Olympics rolled around next year, that the Orange Turd has the US in some sort of Military B.S. and that the USA is banned from international competition (much like Russia is now)….just saying
As an American, you are entitled to your opinion. More than 50% of your fellow citizens disagree.
Yesterday I went to a political rally and a hockey conversation broke out.
Seriously, I get discussing the booing. But why is this becoming political opinions of leaders etc?
This never ends well.
Agreed. Let’s keep this within the context of the tournament and the NHL. This isn’t a forum for airing political views or opinions about politicians.
So my comment isn’t meant to be pro current American admin or against it. But if any of the players voted for the admin that made the decisions the Canadians are booing about they do in fact shoulder just an itzy bitzy part of the “blame”. But unless said players publicly disclosed their voting tendencies the fans at these games don’t know if they did or didn’t.
Not a fan of the booing, seriously fans attending, what does that accomplish? It’s a hockey game.
I get the frustration, as the trade war actions don’t make any economic sense for either country, and I would be surprised if they stick for that reason, but booing at a hockey game? Sound economic sense, and the market, will prevail, I still believe that as do most investors, or we would see it in the S&P and the bond market. Stay calm my fellow Canadians.
Not a good look, fans doing it, be smarter than that.
As for should they play the national anthem, not in favor during regular NHL games as players on each team are from all over the place these days. It’s not Remembance Day, it’s a hockey game between professional teams. But in this tournament it actually makes sense as you are repping your country.
Is that OK Lyle, did I walk the line effectively?
Thank you Lyle for refereeing!
If one is angry at the US just don’t sing the anthem but when the Canadian anthem is played sing it loud and proud.
Happy Valentines Day out to all here and to your loved ones.
Was a little skeptical when down 1-0; then all was good, and the floodgates opened.
I don’t expect us to out-hustle the Canadians tomorrow; but I’m very glad if the match-up is Helleybuck vs Binnington.
Good advice. Besides, why be angry at a whole country. Hell, a good portion of that great nation clearly isn’t happy with the direction of their administration. Booing an anthem just sends the wrong message. The head of the administration – the catalyst for the anger – was booed in his own country at the Super Bowl!
Now THAT was a message, loud and clear.
so mckinnon thinks 10 minutes is to long for overtime. how many different actual players doteams use in a 5 min team. use more players in 10 min ot and they wont be as tired. id say 9 players usually in overtimes now. this would make it more of a team ot victory than
Brad Marchand spoke with TSN’s Chris Johnston about the anthem booing on Friday.
“They should not be booing the Americans during that anthem,” Marchand told Johnston. “They have nothing to do with the political things that are going on. I do feel bad for those guys in that moment. I don’t think it’s right.”
I would much prefer the booing to be Anti-Trump than anti-American. There are a lot of Americans upset as well.
I remember going to baseball and football games.
There is no need to play national anthems at all.
Who started that trend?
See what happens in Montreal.