There isn’t enough mainstream media hype for the Canada against the USA Gold Medal game. This matchup is a year in the making, following the thrilling Four Nations Final and arguably 16 years in the making with Canada taking Gold on the Sidney Crosby Golden Goal.
Who will be the next hero if Crosby isn’t available? Will the USA finally win Gold with a golden generation to do so? So many questions and so little time between now and the 8 AM Eastern puck drop.
Related: Olympics: Canada Prevails in Overtime
One fascinating layer to this game is the team-building aspect. It puts one question to the test, which is whether it’s better to build from the forward unit out or through the defense. There’s no correct answer, yet this game will make the argument for one side.
Canada’s Forwards vs The USA Defense
The common belief in hockey is that the best way to build a champion is from the net out. Great goaltending usually leads the way, and to a point, that’s true with the USA and Canadian teams. Connor Hellebuyck has been lights-out for the Americans, and Jordan Binnington, when he needs to make a big save, always finds a way to make one.
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Canada’s position of strength is its forward unit. They have four great lines that come at opponents in waves but can also do it all. Even without Sidney Crosby centering a second or third line, they have the forwards who do it all, from playing fast to slowing things down to scoring and defending.
The recent champions have built their teams from the forward unit out. The Florida Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup champs, and the Edmonton Oilers were the team they beat in the Final. Like Canada, the defense had its question marks, and goaltending was often an issue. It didn’t matter because of the forward unit that could make up for it. A Canadian Gold will further prove why it’s vital to build a team through a strong forward unit.
The USA team, on the otherhand, has seen its defense stand out in the tournament. Their best players in most, if not every game, have been Quinn Hughes, Zack Werenski, or Jake Sanderson. The Hughes game-winner against Sweden was an exclamation point, and Werenski’s outlet pass to Dylan Larkin got the scoring started against Slovakia in a 6-2 stomping.
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The USA defense is a reminder of how valuable a number-one defense is and the importance of a defense that plays all types of games. It covers up a lot of issues and often raises the ceiling for a team. Historically, the best teams had an elite defenseman from Bobby Orr to Denis Potvin to Paul Coffey. The USA team has six of them.
The Celebrini-MacKinnon-McDavid Line vs Faber-Slavin Pair
There’s the big picture matchup, and then there’s the on-ice matchup. Who will be on the ice late in the game? What gives you more confidence, the three most talented forwards in the NHL or the two best defensive defensemen in the game?
The line Canada will rely on is the Macklin Celebrini, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor McDavid trio. Ideally, Crosby is on this line but instead, the Canadians will turn to the next generation’s version of Crosby, a forward with over 25 minutes of ice time in the game against Finland. All three skaters, interestingly enough, played over 24 minutes in the previous game but one scout on AHL beat mentioned how those players are the ones that Canada can leave out there and not worry, especially because of their skating.
Canada will use their other forward lines in this game. Jon Cooper will try to match up Sam Bennett, Tom Wilson, and Brad Marchand against the USA’s scoring lines and, likewise, have Nick Suzuki on the ice to defend Dylan Larkin. However, when Canada needs a goal late in the game, they’ll bring out Celebrini, McKinnon, and McDavid, and it’s hard to say whether anyone will stop them.
But if there’s one pair that can, it’s Jaccob Slavin and Brock Faber. The Four Nations put them in the spotlight as hockey fans, both casual and passionate, finally saw both defensemen play on a big stage. For Slavin, the admiration is how effortless he makes it look. Faber is also a classic shutdown player but adds an element of speed to his game as well.
This isn’t the duo the USA will rely on for offense. They’ll want Hughes or Werenski on the ice for a big goal. However, when Mike Sullivan needs them to shut down the Canadians, especially if they have a lead late in the game, he’ll turn to the Faber-Slavin pair. There’s a good chance they play 30 minutes in the Gold Medal game.
Who wins this matchup? Cooper will put his best forward line on the ice late in the game, and Sullivan will match it with his best shutdown pair? It’s a hypothetical that fans only dream of seeing, and it’s possible the world watches it on Sunday morning. For many, this is the game within the game that will determine the Gold Medal winner.
Will This Matchup Determine Gold?
The best part about this game is that there are multiple X-factors. The USA forwards have also been incredible in the Olympics, and the Larkin line has particularly stood out. The Canadian defense isn’t great, yet Cale Makar is leading the way, arguably the best defenseman of the era.
There’s also the matchup in the net between Binnington and Hellebuyck. It’s one where both nations have their doubts and still do, leading up to the big game. Hellebuyck is the best goaltender in the NHL, a multi-winning Vezina Trophy winner, and the reigning Hart Trophy winner. However, the playoffs and the big stage have always caused him issues. Binnington is having a forgettable regular season and is arguably one of the league’s worst goaltenders. Many wanted him replaced by Logan Thompson for the Olympics. Yet, Binnington has delivered every time Canada’s asked him to, from the Four Nations to the recent elimination games that came down to the wire.
Ultimately, this game comes down to the best players. For Canada, it’s Celebrini, MacKinnon, and McDavid. The USA doesn’t have a clear-cut top player but their stars are on the defense, and it’s another game where one of them must stand out. So, who wins? One scout said it best, “Just flip a coin!” which tells you how close it is.
