Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk speaks after Florida's 5-1 win over Ottawa on Feb. 8. It was a heck of a start to the 4 Nations Face-Off for Matthew Tkachuk and Team USA. Tkachuk and his brother Brady put on a dominant performance in their tournament opener against Team Finland, a game the Americans cruised to a 6-1 victory. Team USA and the Finns played a tight game through 40 minutes, but three early goals during the final frame blew the game open for the U.S. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] Taking center stage in the victory were the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew and Brady. They combined for five points, with each scoring a pair of goals and big brother Matthew adding an assist. It wasn’t until the second period that American Head Coach Mike Sullivan switched up his forward lines and put Matthew and Brady on the same line, centered by Jack Eichel, that both the Tkachuks and the U.S. started finding their stride. Speaking after the game, Brady Tkachuk was asked what was going through his mind when he and his brother were put on the same line while playing for Team USA. “First was my parents, my sister and all of our family, how happy and excited they must be,” Tkachuk told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan after the game. “Then I was like, if we’re getting together, we’ve got play good and stick together. It was a lot of fun, honestly it’s a dream come true that hasn’t really hit me yet.” Both of Matthew’s goals came on the power play while Brady cashed in at even strength. They also combined for 13 shots on 18 attempts and 10 hits, so it’s probably save to think that the Tkachuks will remain on the same line when the U.S. faces Canada on Saturday night at Bell Centre. "It's a special moment for us to play with each other," Matthew said to Kyle Bukauskas on Sportsnet. It’s the only time outside of the 2023 NHL All-Star Game that Matthew and Brady have played together, and these games obviously will have a big more weight than the 3-on-3 exhibition. “I’ve always said he’s one of the smartest guys in the NHL,” Brady said of his brother. “And to be able to play with a guy like that, I’m just so lucky and trying to find space for him.” We’ll see if Team USA is able to keep the good times rolling when they face Canada on Saturday night in a matchup of the 4 Nations’ winners so far. That game will be played at 8 p.m. at Bell Centre, after the other rivalry matchup of the day between Finland and Sweden is played at 1 p.m. It should be an exceptional day of best-on-best hockey, one that the Americans could potentially lock up a spot in the 4 Nations final with a regulation win. “I just think it’s a sixty-minute effort,” Brady said of his team’s abilities. “We’re going to come right from the first shift to the last shift and we’re going to continue to try to have good winning habits, and I think it showed tonight that we’ll do whatever it takes to win.” "I think I've thought about this game for nine years," added Matthew. "We'll be ready for it." LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Panthers have one of NHL's easiest schedules for rest of regular season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-have-one-of-nhls-easiest-schedules-for-rest-of-regular-season] Anthony Duclair Foundation officially opens synthetic ice rink at South Florida high school [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/anthony-duclair-foundation-officially-opens-synthetic-ice-rink-at-south-florida-high-school] Finland keeping pair of Panthers on same line, Matthew Tkachuk on PP1 for Team USA [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/finland-keeping-pair-of-panthers-on-same-line-matthew-tkachuk-on-pp1-for-team-usa] NHL honors Matthew Tkachuk as NHL breaks for 4 Nations Face-Off [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/nhl-honors-matthew-tkachuk-as-nhl-breaks-for-4-nations-face-off] Jesse Puljujarvi signs PTO with Florida Panthers' AHL affiliate [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/jesse-puljujarvi-signs-pto-with-florida-panthers-ahl-affiliate] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
