All three were making their Olympic debuts, but for McDavid and Draisaitl, the opportunity had been over a decade in the making. Both played with a noticeable edge right from the opening puck drop. Let’s discuss what stood out from each performance.
McDavid was flying
The Czech players may have been expecting some physicality from Canada’s top line, and while Tom Wilson was throwing the body all game, McDavid set the tone. He blew up Lukas Sedlak with a bone-crushing hit on the first shift. Seconds later, he drew a holding penalty on Sedlak entering the offensive zone. That opening sequence was a preview of how effective Canada’s top line would be. Wilson was a wrecking ball, but McDavid’s instant chemistry with Macklin Celebrini was the most intriguing takeaway from this game. The 19-year-old’s doggedness on retrievals and intelligent off-puck play complemented McDavid’s possession-heavy playmaking game perfectly.
One of the biggest challenges for head coach Jon Cooper at the 4-Nations Face-Off was trying to find the right linemates for McDavid, and that certainly won’t be an issue with Celebrini in the lineup. He has the IQ and skill set to play at McDavid’s pace and provide him with the support he needs to be at his best. On the power play, McDavid started on the right flank, but relied on constant movement and rotations to make plays. He and Crosby had a nice interchange where McDavid moved down to the goal line and sauced the puck across the crease to Nathan MacKinnon for the only power play goal in the game. With threats all over the ice and deliberate, coordinated movement, McDavid orchestrated numerous chances with the man advantage.
Analyst and host of the Hockey PDOcast, Dimitri Filipovic, has been tracking scoring chance contributions for each game in the tournament, and his data puts into perspective the type of game that McDavid had.
He had 14 scoring chance contributions, while the entire Czech team combined had 12. No other forward in the game contributed on more than six chances. It was a masterclass from McDavid, who finished with three assists and six shots on goal. It’s early, but he has already planted his flag in the tournament MVP conversation.
The Draisaitl-Samanski line
In a bit of a surprise move, the German coaching staff started 23-year-old Josh Samanski on the top line with his Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl. Their line would prove to be a handful for Denmark. On their first shift, Draisaitl skated the puck out of his own zone, fired a stretch pass up to Frederik Tiffels, and then drove the net to redirect the puck past Frederik Anderson. He needed just 23 seconds to get on the board.
Draisaitl was the most puck-dominant player in this game. He controlled possession for long stretches, circling the offensive zone and setting up teammates in shooting positions. Plenty of his signature moves were on display, from sharp-angle shots to attacking the triangle between defenders’ sticks and skates off the rush. While he and Tiffels generated most of the scoring chances, Samanski quietly made an impact as well.
In the offensive zone, he constantly occupied the net front, using his size and strength to fend off the Danish defence. He held that role on the top power play unit as well.
In transition, Samanski was effective both defensively, by getting back and staying above the puck whenever possible, and offensively, by providing close support along the boards during breakouts.
His most notable moments included a defensive-zone battle win that led to a Draisaitl breakaway and a glorious odd-man rush chance where he couldn’t get a clean shot off a saucer pass from Draisaitl.
Leon was the most impactful player on either team, finishing with a goal, an assist, and three slot shots. Samanski wasn’t flashy, but he played well in a support role alongside the skilled players on his line. He and Draisaitl each logged over 21 minutes of time on ice and were trusted to defend in the final minute to help close out the win for Germany. Wrapping up their first games
If these games were any indication, the Oilers’ stars will have their fingerprints all over this tournament. Through one game, McDavid leads the tournament in scoring chance contributions, and Draisaitl is tied for second. For Oilers fans eager to get a look at Samanski in a feature role, he will be a fascinating watch in his own right as the Olympics progress and the stakes rise.
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