The highly publicized USA-Canada game at the 4 Nations Face-Off was every bit as intense as expected. As soon as the game began things hit the boil with three fights within the first nine seconds of play to set the tone. Going in, much was speculated about how exactly Team USA would play, and especially how players like Matthew Tkachuk would play. But after news broke that some fights were pre-planned, head coach Mike Sullivan weighed in.

“No, I was not aware of it,” confessed Sullivan. “I knew we were going to be jacked up to play. Obviously, there’s a lot of energy around this game, but my thought process was that these guys tend to be the heartbeat of our group.” It looks like the players took things into their own hands without consultation! But it’s a strategy that paid off as the U.S. dominated Canada for most of the game, and the fights certainly helped build that momentum.

Mike Sullivan in particular pointed to the Tkachuk brothers and Jack Hughes. Putting them together in their game against Finland gave them that unmistakable spark, a template that was employed in their battle with Canada.“We felt like when we put the Tkachuk brothers together with Jack, that was a catalyst for our team,” Sullivan said. “They just play the game a certain way. They bring over the physicality. They’re hard to play against.”

This chemistry translated onto the ice as well, with Team USA dictating stretches of play, not giving Canada a chance. Jake Guentzel was at the heart of everything, scoring twice—including an empty net goal that secured the 3-1 victory. And Dylan Larkin’s second-period goal was ultimately the game-winner. But just as much as the goals, it was their physicality that gave Team USA the edge.

Tkachuk and Team USA’s unrelenting physicality

While skill and quickness play so much of a part at this level, Team USA went in on the assumption that brute force would disrupt Canada’s planned style of play. Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, who have their reputations for aggressive, in-your-face play themselves, led that charge. Brady went on to describe that Team USA embraced the “villain mentality” going in, knowing that in Montreal, they would not exactly be popular.

From the first puck drop, it was clear that the Tkachuks and their teammates were going to make their presence known. Big hits, relentless forechecking, and in-your-face board battles all took center stage in their game plan. Canada scored first with a Connor McDavid goal but was immediately counteracted by Team USA’s aggressive play.

“Momentum is such a big part of this game,” Mike Sullivan explained. “My thought process was, these guys are going to help us gain momentum. They just play the game so hard. They bring over the physicality. They’re hard to play against.”

With Canada having so much depth on their roster, cutting off their flow of play was crucial. Team USA’s plan was clear—they would take their own pace by making things as unpleasant as possible for their opponents to the north. “I don’t believe that there’s many players that like to play against them with how they play the game,” Sullivan went on to say. “These players definitely have a lot of heart for wanting to win.”

As the hockey community looks at the USA-Canada game, all that is evident is that this rivalry is as intense as ever before. Sullivan’s postgame comments verify that not only talented players comprise Team USA—they are a team established on unity of purpose, intensity, and trust. For now, Team USA departs from this fight, the victors. And if their next game with Canada awaits in the final, they’ll eagerly welcome the battle once more.