“That Was One of the Best Experiences of my Life": Larkin Nets Winner as USA Tops Canada
At a one of a kind tournament, USA gets a one of a kind win over Canada with Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin playing the hero
As the clock ticked under 6:30 to play in the second period, Detroit Red Wings captain and Team USA centerman Dylan Larkin carried the puck from his own end of the rink to the Canadian one. With powerful strides through the neutral zone, he took advantage of a Canadian line change and found himself a two-on-one with teammate J.T. Miller to his left. Larkin never showed eyes for anything but shooting though, and when he fired, his aim was true—a blistered wrist shot past the blocker of Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington. The goal gave the U.S. a 2–1 lead, which it would retain on the way to a 3–1 win, clinching the Americans' place in the championship game of the first (and, in all likelihood, last) 4 Nations Face-Off.
The 4 Nations has been tricky to contextualize because it lacks history and likely lacks a future. There were questions as to just how much effort players would expend at a contrived, made-for-television tournament, whether these games might look like the All-Star Games no one much cares to watch. Those doubts had been resolved from the moment the puck dropped on the tournament Wednesday night, between Canada and Sweden. Then, Saturday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal, the intensity reached new heights with a start that was nothing short of surreal.
Three fights in nine seconds. First Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel, then Brady Tkachuk and Sam Bennett, finally J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko. As the elder Tkachuk told reporters after the game, “The message we wanted to send is, ‘It’s our time right now.' "We’re in a hostile environment,” he added. “We wanted to show that we’re not backing down. They’ve had so much success, and so many players over there are some of the best players in the world. But we felt in this environment, this stage in this tournament, was a good time to do it. It was a lot of fun.”
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Though Canada found the game's first goal (Connor McDavid in transition), the Americans made the hostile atmosphere their own from the jump with the fisticuffs. Then, they proceeded to do what has eluded them at the men's international level against Canada throughout the 21st century: Dictating the game's terms against the established hockey hegemon.
Jake Guentzel tied the game some five minutes after McDavid's opener, before Larkin put Team USA out front in the second. From that point on, the Americans refused their hosts any semblance of quality offense, playing a hard and clean defensive game to see out the emphatic victory.
“That was one of the best experiences of my life,” Larkin told reporters. “Just an unbelievable hockey game. I hope you guys feel the same way. The start, the guys, the Tkachuk brothers and ‘Millsy,’ what a start, and credit to those guys for answering the bell. You know, the crowd, just a great night for our sport and a great night for this rivalry. Can’t wait to get back to Boston and get on home soil.”
The work for Team USA won't be done until they capture a trophy, but with two wins in Montreal under their belts, the Americans are heading back home having made a blaring statement.
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