Matthew, Brady Tkachuk Planned USA 4 Nations Face-Off Fights vs. Canada in Group Text

Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk and J.T. Miller used a group chat to plan instigating three separate fights in first nine seconds of Team USA's game against Canada on Saturday night.

Brady Tkachuk said the group discussed fighting early in the game during the day Saturday (h/t Mollie Walker of the New York Post.)

The fights started with Matthew Tkachuk taking on Brandon Hagel, followed by Brady Tkachuk against Sam Bennett and J.T. Miller versus Colton Parayko.

The NHL's mic feed caught the Tkachuk brothers discussing the bouts in the penalty box after Brady's fight.

"I got him good," Brady told Matthew.

"Yeah you did," Matthew said, before asking, "How was mine?"

"Unbelievable," Brady answered.

Matthew Tkachuk said after the game Team USA wanted to "send a message" with the fights.

"The message we wanted to send is, 'It's our time,'" Tkachuk said, per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press.

It looks like Canada received the message. Team USA won 3-1 to clinch a spot in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off championship game.

The victory ended Canada's 17-game win streak against the USA in best-on-best play, as well as a stretch of 26 straight victories with team captain Sidney Crosby in the lineup.

The Americans' biggest concern heading into the tournament title game might be the availability of Matthew Tkachuk, who sat out most of Saturday's third period.

Tkachuk says he has "no concern" about what Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan described as a lower-body injury that is still being evaluated, per Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Team USA will hope to get him back in the lineup before the puck drops in Boston for Thursday's title game.

If Canada earns a regulation Monday win over Finland and a spot in the championship game, the Tkachuk brothers might start planning more fights ahead of a winner-takes-all rematch against their rivals.