BOSTON — Chris Kreider has never been one to think or talk in hypotheticals.
Not even having one of the largest circuses of cameras and reporters huddled around his podium Tuesday, after he scored a goal in his 4 Nations Face-Off debut in Team USA’s loss to Sweden on Monday night, could get the longest-tenured Ranger to divulge what possibly playing in the championship game against Canada would mean 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 seriously high praise for Kreider after his performance.
In addition to scoring a goal a mere 35 seconds into the game, the 33-year-old skated on the right wing of Team USA’s top line with Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk before the Senators captain got hurt.
He also slotted onto the top power-play unit.
Sullivan had lauded Kreider for his versatility before the tournament began, but the Penguins head coach seemed impressed by what he saw from the veteran.
“He can really skate,” the veteran coach said. “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.”
Asked if Kreider’s game was well-suited to the style of play Team USA expects to play in the final, Sullivan gave a resounding yes.
He credited Kreider’s strength, while also stating he expects another physical bout with the Canadians.
Kreider could possibly go in for Brock Nelson, who has collected zero points in skating on the fourth line, or maybe Kyle Connor, who registered the lowest ice time of any American who didn’t suffer an injury in the game against Sweden.
“For me, it’s one day at a time,” Kreider said when asked if there have been discussions with Sullivan about playing the final. “Take the rest day and be ready to go for practice tomorrow.”
After serving as a healthy scratch in the first two games, the Massachusetts native was excited to get the opportunity to suit up for the men’s national team and play in front of his hometown crowd in Boston.
He said he had some family in attendance, as well.
“Kreids did a great job,” Nelson said. “Started right away, driving to the net, got rewarded with a big goal. He’s been a great player for a long time. Obviously, you think about him, you talk about his speed and what he brings and how he can kind of back guys off offensively, which showed on his goal.
“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.”
No one knows if there will be as many fireworks as there were to start the first USA-Canada game, but the consensus from most players on each team is that this is considered the biggest game 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 forward Brandon Hagel said. “That was my mentality.”
The Canadians have assured there are no group chats, like the one Americans Matthew and Brady Tkachuk and J.T. Miller started ahead of the three fights that broke out within the first nine seconds of Saturday’s contest.
“I did it for the flag, not the cameras,” said Hagel, who dropped the gloves with Matthew Tkachuk off the opening faceoff.
