BOSTON — Chris Kreider has by no means been one to assume or discuss in hypotheticals.
Not even having one of many largest circuses of cameras and reporters huddled round his podium Tuesday, after he scored a objective in his 4 Nations Face-Off debut in Workforce USA’s loss to Sweden on Monday evening, might get the longest-tenured Ranger to expose what probably enjoying within the championship sport in opposition to Canada would imply to him.
“Like you said, I don’t like to talk in hypotheticals,” he quipped. “Focus on today and get after it tomorrow.”
Head coach Mike Sullivan had some critically excessive reward for Kreider after his efficiency.
Along with scoring a objective a mere 35 seconds into the sport, the 33-year-old skated on the precise wing of Workforce USA’s prime line with Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk earlier than the Senators captain acquired damage.
He additionally slotted onto the highest power-play unit.
Sullivan had lauded Kreider for his versatility earlier than the match started, however the Penguins head coach appeared impressed by what he noticed from the veteran.
“He can really skate,” the veteran coach mentioned. “His north-south speed is a challenge for any opponent. Obviously, I’m pretty familiar with his game, being the same division and playing against him all the time. I thought he played really well.”
Requested if Kreider’s sport was well-suited to the type of play Workforce USA expects to play within the last, Sullivan gave a convincing sure.
He credited Kreider’s energy, whereas additionally stating he expects one other bodily bout with the Canadians.
Kreider might probably go in for Brock Nelson, who has collected zero factors in skating on the fourth line, or perhaps Kyle Connor, who registered the bottom ice time of any American who didn’t endure an damage within the sport in opposition to Sweden.
“For me, it’s one day at a time,” Kreider mentioned when requested if there have been discussions with Sullivan about enjoying the ultimate. “Take the rest day and be ready to go for practice tomorrow.”
After serving as a wholesome scratch within the first two video games, the Massachusetts native was excited to get the chance to swimsuit up for the boys’s nationwide crew and play in entrance of his hometown crowd in Boston.
He mentioned he had some household in attendance, as properly.
“Kreids did a great job,” Nelson mentioned. “Began immediately, driving to the online, acquired rewarded with an enormous objective. He’s been a fantastic participant for a very long time. Clearly, you concentrate on him, you speak about his pace and what he brings and the way he can sort of again guys off offensively, which confirmed on his objective.
“Another power play guy that can kind of slide in and be a difference-maker down low in front of the net. I thought he brought a lot of that and was a big part of it.”
Nobody is aware of if there shall be as many fireworks as there have been to begin the primary USA-Canada sport, however the consensus from most gamers on every crew is that that is thought of the largest sport of their lives.
“I was thinking to myself laying in bed the night before the [first] game, ‘If this is going to be like an all-star type of thing, then I’m going to be so out of place because I’m putting my head through a wall tomorrow,’ ” Canada ahead Brandon Hagel mentioned. “That was my mentality.”
The Canadians have assured there are not any group chats, just like the one People Matthew and Brady Tkachuk and J.T. Miller began forward of the three fights that broke out inside the first 9 seconds of Saturday’s contest.
“I did it for the flag, not the cameras,” mentioned Hagel, who dropped the gloves with Matthew Tkachuk off the opening faceoff.
