Team USA does not play its first game at the Four Nations Faceoff until Thursday against Finland. They continued to practice, and many wondered what the line combinations for the tournament were going to be like. There was some thought that Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes might have a chance to be on the same line after Matthews had high praise for the Devils forward the day he was named captain of Team USA.
“Yeah, I mean, the feelings are definitely mutual. Jack’s a special player,” Matthews said to the media during his availability after being named captain. “He’s a guy that obviously is very dynamic. And with the roster that we have, we got lots of lots of skill, lots of talent, lots of depth, but he’s a guy that obviously is one of the superstars in this league that is dangerous many times when he is out there.”
Jack Hughes Makes Team USA Four Nations Faceoff Roster
That is high praise from one of the best players in the league, if not the world. Matthews saw firsthand how dangerous Jack Hughes could be when he was out on the ice when the Devils squared off against the Maple Leafs. In the last game against the Maple Leafs, Hughes registered three points (one goal and two assists). In his career, he has nine points (four goals and five assists) in 12 games against Toronto.
Matthews knew exactly what he was saying when he told the media he hoped to play on the same line with him.
“It’s not always fun playing against these guys on any given night. So it’s going to be pretty cool to be playing on the same team,” Matthews said. “And whether we’re on the same line or not, it’s just gonna be fun to spend some time get to know him a little bit more. Play with him and just kind of see how it goes.”
New Jersey Devils Teammates Will Play Against Each at Four Nations Faceoff
Well, through two days of practice, Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes remain on the same line. Their linemate is Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel.
Hughes is thrilled to be at the tournament but most excited to play alongside Matthews, whom he labels “the best American we’ve got.”
“I haven’t really played with a shooter like that probably in my life,” Jack Hughes said to the media after practice on Monday. “He’s one of the best of the best when it comes to goal scoring. So it should be fun to play with him, and we’ll see how it goes. We’ve just got to find our way early on, and I’m excited.”
Everyone Needs To Pump The Brakes on Quinn Hughes to the Devils Talk
This duo has a chance to be dynamic for Team USA. It is all about playing their game and not trying to be too fancy. But to have two of the faces of USA Hockey on the same line is special. Having a pure goal scorer with a dynamic distributor of the puck only makes things better with Guentzel there to clean up the garbage. And Guentzel is no slouch, either. He can facilitate scoring with the best of them, especially on the big stage.
Head Coach Mike Sullivan is rolling with this trio. But it is funny how one simple gesture and praise of one player led to Jack Hughes and Auston Matthews playing on the same line at the Four Nations Face-off.
Team USA gets underway on Thursday night at the Bell Centre against Finland.
