Colorado Avalanche star must step up to lead Team Canada in their crucial final round-robin game against Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off. A win secures Canada a spot in the final and a highly anticipated rematch with the United States, while a loss would mark a disappointing early exit for a team expected to reach the final.
Canada’s previous loss to the U.S. can be attributed to the Americans’ disciplined, tight-checking style and their ability to capitalize on key opportunities, such as Dylan Larkin’s goal, which stemmed from a single defensive lapse by Canada.
Now, all eyes turn to Monday’s do-or-die matchup with Finland, who are coming off a thrilling overtime victory against Sweden. Canada’s path to victory hinges on MacKinnon’s performance, particularly with the Finnish defense, led by Aleksander Barkov, set to focus on shutting down Connor McDavid.
This defensive strategy could provide MacKinnon with more chances to shine. If he can seize the moment, a formidable trio of MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, and Mark Stone could propel Canada to the final against their North American rivals. However, if MacKinnon is contained, Finland could pull off the upset and punch their ticket to the championship game.