The wait is over—the NHL’s Four Nations Face-Off is set to begin in just a few days, and every country is ready to take the stage. Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan faced a significant but exciting challenge: crafting the best possible lines from a star-studded roster. As the Americans stepped onto the ice, brothers Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk received some disappointing news.
On Monday morning and noon, all four participating sides took to the ice for their first team practices, and fans and media learned how each lineup will be looking during opening night of the international contest.
Naturally, the most buzz surrounded Team Canada and Team USA’s lineups, as both North American teams had enough stars to fill every line. Both countries are expected to come out on top, and fans are already anticipating a potential Championship Game showdown between them. However, Finland and Sweden are not to be underestimated, as both teams are capable of knocking out the host nations.
The Stars and Stripes will face their first test against Finland on February 13 at Bell Centre in Montreal. While Sullivan is far from experiencing success with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2024-25 NHL season, the experienced head coach hopes to guide Team USA to silverware during the mid-season tourney. Ahead of the opening game, Sullivan revealed a critical call involving star brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk.
The Tkachuk brothers won’t share the ice—at least not during the debut against Finland—as Matthew will play right wing on the first line, while Brady will be on the left wing of Team USA’s third line.
The two wingers have often spoken about their dream of playing together, especially on a special stage like the Four Nations Face-Off. However, it seems Sullivan made a strategic decision, and the brothers won’t get to fulfill their long-standing wish.
Special teams opportunity
While the Tkachuk brothers won’t play on the same line in 5-on-5 hockey, it remains to be seen whether they could be paired together on special teams. Since Team USA doesn’t debut until Thursday night, they have an extra day of preparation, and Sullivan chose not to focus on odd-man situations during the team’s opening scrimmage.
On Tuesday, the team will showcase its special teams setups, and perhaps Brady and Matthew will get the chance to play together on the power play, penalty kill, or both.
Rivals to teammates
Brady and Matthew last faced each other on Saturday night as the Florida Panthers dismantled the Ottawa Senators by a score of 5-1 in Sunrise. In an action-packed matchup, both Tkachuk brothers opened the scoring for their teams, but it was Matthew who had the last laugh as he capped off a three-point outing and secured the win over his younger brother.
However, the animosity quickly shifted as both brothers were eager to be a part of the same team ahead of the Four Nations Face-Off.
“We’re really jacked up for it,” Matthew Tkachuk admitted postgame about playing with Brady in Team USA. “We were lucky [to play together] at the All-Star Game, but that’s not real. Other than that, we’ve never played together. Everybody [on our family] is very excited to see us together on the same ice, on the same team.”
Team USA lineup vs Finland
Forwards
- Kyle Connor-Jack Eichel-Matthew Tkachuk
- Jake Guentzel-Auston Matthews-Jack Hughes
- Brady Tkachuk-J.T. Miller-Matt Boldy
- Brock Nelson-Vincent Trocheck-Dylan Larkin
Defensemen
- Jaccob Slavin-Adam Fox
- Zach Werenski-Charlie McAvoy
- Noah Hanifin-Brock Faber
Goaltenders
- Connor Hellebuyck
- Jake Oettinger
- Jeremy Swayman