Matthew Tkachuk: 4 Nations 'Has Helped Grow the Game' for USA Hockey Ahead of Final

Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk believes that his squad has helped grow hockey at home amid its current run to the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off against Canada.

“Whether you like hockey or not, I think our team has helped grow the game here in this country already, and I think a win can just knock that door right down and open a whole new wave of hockey players,” Tkachuk told reporters in Boston on Wednesday, per Michael Russo of The Athletic.

The tournament exploded last Saturday when three fights occurred in the first nine seconds of the Team USA vs. Team Canada matchup. Team USA then overcame a 1-0 deficit to win 3-1 and secure a spot in the final.

Those fights, and Team USA's win, transcended sports and found its way into mainstream news outlets. It's inarguably been the biggest American sports story since the Super Bowl and stayed in the headlines numerous days afterward.

The game was also a huge draw for the sport as it happened, per Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch.

"Saturday’s United States-Canada NHL Four Nations Face-Off game averaged 4.4 million viewers, per Nielsen fast-nationals — trailing only Game 7 of last year’s Stanley Cup Final (Oilers-Panthers: 7.67M) as the most-watched NHL-affiliated telecast of any kind in the past two years," Lewis said.

Now Team USA takes centerstage again in a monumental matchup against Canada. As Tkachuk noted, a victory against Canada on Thursday could help grow the game even further. At any rate, it will be a massive attraction, especially after what happened last week.

Thursday's game will take place at 8 p.m. ET in Boston's TD Garden.