Elias Pettersson and Team Sweden take on J.T. Miller and Team USA.
While Monday's Team Sweden vs Team USA game at the 4 Nations Face-Off doesn't have any impact on the final, it is an important game for Vancouver Canucks fans. In the final game of the qualifying round, Elias Pettersson will take on J.T. Miller for the first time since Miller was traded to the New York Rangers. Even before the trade, this was a date fans had circled on the calendar, especially once information about the player's rift became public.
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As has been confirmed by President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford, there was a significant rift between Pettersson and Miller. These issues were not new and can even be traced back to when Travis Green was the Head Coach of the Canucks. Ultimately, the rift got so bad that it forced Vancouver to move Miller, which garnered plenty of positive and negative feedback from the fan base.
A quick glance at social media will show just how invested Canucks fans are in this game. The amount of interest has even been recognized by multiple betting sites, who were offering Pettersson and Miller-based props ahead of Monday's game. From both players scoring goals to whether the two would drop the gloves, there have been many predictions on what could happen when Sweden and the USA face off.
It is very difficult to judge exactly what will happen when the puck drops on Monday night. As mentioned, the game is meaningless from a standing perspective, which may result in both teams trying to avoid injury. That being said, with a rift that has lasted multiple years, there will be some animosity between Pettersson and Miller.
While some believe that there will be an altercation between Pettersson and Miller, history shows that this is unlikely. Despite Miller's willingness to drop the gloves, Pettersson is the opposite and has not fought in his NHL career. Outside of some slashes or pushing and shoving, it would be shocking to see Vancouver's center get involved in a fight with his former teammate.
Another possibility is that we see little to no physical contact between Pettersson and Miller. While Pettersson is still at center, Miller has been moved to the wing, which means they might not draw each other in a matchup. That being said, it is hard to imagine they won't get at least a few shifts against each other, including potentially when Sweden is on the power play.
In the end, having Pettersson and Miller face off on Monday night is a big win for the tournament. Having two former teammates who had such a public rift battle it out should not only draw attention from Canucks fans but media outlets from across the league. Ultimately, the 5:00 pm PT matchup will be must-watch hockey as Pettersson and Team Sweden look to end their 4 Nations Face-Off on a positive note against Miller and Team USA.
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