'No Way I Was Missing This Game': Matthews, Tkachuks Among Those Dealing With Injuries At 4 Nations Face-Off

Who’s hurt at the 4 Nations Face-Off, and how much it could end up hurting their respective NHL team when the regular season resumes?

Shea Theodore is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Charlie McAvoy is in the hospital with an injured shoulder and infection. And Brady Tkachuk crashed into the post in a game against Sweden.

Word is that Tkachuk will still play in the championship final on Thursday despite being under the weather and missing practice on Wednesday. The same goes for Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk, who missed the last game of the round-robin because of lingering injuries.

As with the Stanley Cup playoffs, players are grinding through minor injuries, ailments and general soreness for a taste of glory. But at what expense? With the playoffs, at least you know there is a long summer break waiting for you at the end of the line. But once this two-week tournament ends, there is no rest.

Instead, NHL teams are already back practising for the stretch drive of the regular season, followed by the war of attrition that is the playoffs.

Maybe this is why Alex Pietrangelo decided to skip the festivities after complaining of a nagging knee injury right before the tournament started. It's a decision that was criticized initially but looks even better now that his defense partner, Theodore, is out week-to-week. Injuries at this time of year are never ideal, especially for players on teams with playoff — or championship — aspirations.

With the tournament winding down, here’s a look at some of the players who are hurt and how much it could end up hurting their respective NHL teams.

According to the Bruins, McAvoy "sustained an injury to his right shoulder acromioclavicular joint" in the first game of the tournament and then was "diagnosed as having an infection in his right shoulder, as well as a significant injury to his AC joint." 

He remains in the hospital, where his condition is improving, according to the Bruins' physician.

That's a tough loss for the Bruins, who are tied with the Blue Jackets in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings — one point behind the final wild-card spot — and have been without Hampus Lindholm since Nov. 12.

Tkachuk, who crashed into the goal post in the final game of the round-robin, did not practise on Wednesday but is expected to play against Canada in the championship game. With two goals in three games, having Tkachuk in the lineup against Canada is important. But even more important is that Tkachuk, whose Senators are clinging to a wild-card spot, can lead Ottawa to its first playoff appearance in eight years.

The Team USA captain was dealing with shoulder issues earlier in the season, which caused some in Toronto to wonder if he should skip the tournament altogether. That never happened. But with Matthews missing the final round-robin game due to a "new" injury, reportedly upper-body soreness, there is talk again about whether he should be playing in the final. 

"There's no way I was missing this game," Matthews told reporters. That doesn't sound like he's 100-percent healthy. If so, that's a concern for the Maple Leafs, who might not be in danger of missing the playoffs but will be looking to Matthews to get them over the hump in the post-season.

There were fears the Team Canada captain would have to miss the 4 Nations Face-Off after an upper-body injury kept him out of the Penguins' final two games. Those fears, of course, were quickly allayed once the tournament began. 

Crosby, who is tied for the scoring lead with five points in three games, has turned back the clock with his clutch performance. 

As to what shape the 37-year-old will be in when the tournament ends, who cares? With the Penguins locked in a three-way tie for 13th place in the Eastern Conference standings — six points back of a wild-card spot — it's not like he will lead them into the playoffs. Then again, don't count it out.

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