The inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off is officially in the books, as Team Canada defeated Team USA in a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory on Thursday night, Feb. 21. The Minnesota Wild didn’t have any members on Team Canada, but they did have two players and a number of other staff members on Team USA. It was an exciting game from start to finish, and both Brock Faber and Matt Boldy made their play known.
It was already discussed how their teammates on Team Sweden stepped up, and now it’s time to look at Boldy and Faber. The Wild should be highly pleased with all of their 4 Nations Face-Off members, especially these two. They showed up, and we’ll look at how they did, starting with Boldy.
Boldy Finds Confidence
The biggest issue with Matt Boldy this season has been his confidence with the puck. At the beginning of the season, he played with a lot of confidence and was more willing to carry the puck and shoot it. Lately, however, he’s been less willing and more eager to pass the puck away rather than be selfish.
Once he was with Team USA, his game changed for the better; he was playing back to the way he had started the season. He had confidence and was inserting himself into the play more and more rather than hanging back. He carried the puck a lot and tried to force his way to the net, plus he worked very well with all of his teammates.
Boldy continued his points streak as he tallied a goal and two assists for three points in four games. In the Wild’s final game before the break he recorded two goals and one assist for three points as well. In the 4 Nations Face-Off, his goal was a game-winner in Team USA’s win over Finland, and he also had an assist. His final assist came in Team USA’s win over Team Canada in the round-robin portion of the tournament.
He was like a new player and someone the Wild could use on their team when he returns from this tournament. Hopefully, he can use this newfound confidence and be that player his team needs now to make it to the postseason.
Faber Shows His Skills
Everyone in Minnesota knows Brock Faber’s skills, and although Team USA lost to Team Canada in the championship, now the entire nation knows what kind of talent he has. Faber stood up to Connor McDavid multiple times in that loss, and he did it all throughout the tournament to all the top stars. He’s proven time and time again how good his defensive skills are, and he continued to do so for Team USA.
He might have been the Wild’s best player in the tournament, but he didn’t get much credit for it. He registered two assists throughout the tournament and blocked as many shots as possible, which gave Wild fans a bit of anxiety about injury. Like Boldy, he kept his point streak going as he had an assist in the final game before the break and added to it during the tournament. He also played with more confidence in his game, he hadn’t lost it quite like Boldy but his game was definitely more elevated.
Faber’s play is already strong for his age and experience level, but he plays like a man on a mission in every game. He wasn’t afraid to stand up to every opponent; he stopped players like McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Nathan MacKinnon. While it’s his job as an NHL defenseman, it’s a lot easier to say it than do it, but he did it and did it well. The Wild will need his game going down this stretch, as it will be long.
Boldy & Faber Gain Experience
Their team didn’t win out in the end, but they certainly did. Being chosen for the team was already an honor, but getting to share the ice with the best of the best can only make them better. They’re both young players in their early 20s who hopefully have long NHL careers ahead of them, and playing with the best players in the world elevated their game.
Related: Minnesota Wild’s Swedes Shine At 4 Nations Face-Off
As their selection to the team shows, they are already some of the best players in the league, but they have a lot to learn going forward. Boldy has some things to adjust in his game, as does Faber, but they also have some great skills already in place. This tournament was a great way for them to see how other players operate and learn to play in those high-stage atmospheres.
The Wild needs all five players to build off these experiences and help bring that level of play to their game. The most significant item they need is their confidence in their game, as it makes them better overall.
Wild Face Final Run
When the Wild’s season gets back underway, it’s going to be a crazy ride. They have 15 games left in March, and they’re going to be playing nearly every other day. Hopefully, the Wild get their stars back ready to go, and they can hit the ground running, starting with a win on the road.
