Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Centers Second Line, Playing Alongside Devils’ Jack Hughes As Team USA Opens Practice At 4 Nations Face-Off

Team USA practiced for the first time on Monday in Montreal ahead of their tournament opener against Finland on Thursday.

Team USA hit the ice in Montreal on Monday for their first official practice as a unit ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off, and head coach Mike Sullivan wasted no time experimenting with his star-studded lineup.

Headlining practice was the second line centered by Toronto Maple Leafs and Team USA captain Auston Matthews with Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel on the left and New Jersey Devils’ Jack Hughes on the right. 

While Hughes typically centers the top line for New Jersey, the 23-year-old was slotted on the right wing alongside Matthews, forming what should be one of the most dynamic second lines in the tournament.

The trio has combined for 71 goals, 93 assists, and 164 points in the NHL this season.

Back in December, Matthews spoke highly of the opportunity to play alongside Hughes, acknowledging the New Jersey forward’s rise in the NHL.

“Yeah, it'd be great. I mean, he's a special player, obviously,” Matthews said. “Especially over the last couple of years, he seems to really have come into his own.”

“A very dangerous player, so he's one of the guys I really enjoy watching. Playing against him is always a challenge. When you look at the roster that we have, I think there's a lot of really special players. No matter who you're going to play with, he's going to be a really good player. But obviously, he's one of the very elite guys in this league," he added.

Matthews enters the tournament on a four-game point streak with seven assists, but no goals in his last six games for the Maple Leafs. It’s the longest streak without a goal this season for the 27-year-old.

Matthews is one of four Maple Leafs selected for the tournament, joining Mitch Marner (Canada) and William Nylander (Sweden). Defenseman Jani Hakanpaa was named to Finland’s roster but will not participate due to an ongoing knee injury.

The American-born forward previously represented the United States in the 2015 and 2016 IIHF World Junior U-20 Championships, collecting 14 points (8G, 6A) in 12 games.

With a few days to prepare, Team USA opens the best-on-best tournament against Finland on Thursday at the Bell Centre in Montreal. 

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