The Tkachuk Brothers Put On One Of The Greatest Displays In American History
Andrea Cardin/4NFO. Getty Images.It's been close to 10 years since we had true best-on-best international hockey being played. And while the 4 Nations Face-Off still might just be an exhibition event rather than a full blown international tournament, you knew that guys were going to be fired up to play for their country. You knew they weren't going to treat this just like some all-star game where they coast around for 60 minutes just to collect a check at the end of it. But you still need guys who are going to set the tone, and make sure that everybody on the roster treats each of these games like it's a game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Tkachuks are those guys.
The thing about Matthew and Brady Tkachuk is that they make it their goal every time they step onto the ice to make the other team absolutely despise playing the game of hockey. They make you wish you never laced up a pair of skates before because of how much these guys piss you off. They are relentless rats. They are maniacal menaces. They are diabolical demons. And now that they finally get a chance to play on the same team as each other, while wearing the "USA" across their chest? Well you knew they were only going to dial it up a few notches and completely takeover.
Obviously these guys were going to set the tone with the rough stuff. This is where the Tkachuk's game starts to really rev up. You see Canada scoring powerplay goals in the first minute of the game the other night against Sweden. The Tkachuks need to put somebody through Earth's crust before they feel like the game has actually started. The Tkachuks thrive once the game gets physical. The live to put bodies on the ice, and pucks in the back of the net.
Not 1.
Not 2.
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Not 3.
But 4 combined goals out of Brothers Tkachuk in this one.
5 total points between both of them in a 6-1 win. These guys know that the moment you put on that "USA" sweater, whatever game you are playing is the most important game of your life. Doesn't matter if Matthew is a Stanley Cup Champion. Doesn't matter if Brady is the captain in Ottawa and still has a playoff push ahead of him. I can guarantee you that Matthew and Brady Tkachuk didn't give a single shit about anythings besides beating the wheels off of Finland in this game, because that's the only way they know how to play the game.
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The Tkachuks are American Hockey. Piss and vinegar, but with a ridiculous amount of skill thrown in there as well. God these guys rule. And to think that it's all thanks to the big fella having unprotected sex a couple of times.
Jeff Vinnick. Getty Images.Thanks, Keith!
Now here's to hoping these sick psychopaths left a little gas in the tank for Saturday night against the Canadians. Something tells me the tank is still going to be overflowing.
PLAY FREEBIRD!