Four games into the 4 Nations Face-Off, the tournament has had exciting games to watch. Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland have lived up to the hype surrounding the tournament.
The United States have dominated the tournament so far. With the United States winning 3-1 against Canada last night, they clinched a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game this upcoming Thursday at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Four players on the Ottawa Senators made a roster spot for the tournament, but only three of them have played at least one game. With the United States' win over Canada, it now opens up a golden chance for one Senator to finally play in the tournament and represent his country.
Jake Sanderson has golden chance to play in USA's next game tomorrow
Brady Tkachuk, Linus Ullmark and Nikolas Matinpalo have all played in the 4 Nations Face-Off. The only Senator to not play in the tournament is Jake Sanderson. But now with the United States' win over Canada, it could lead a chance for Sanderson to play in the United States' next game.
The United States are scheduled to play Sweden tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET at TD Garden. The United States clinched a spot in the championship game, so in retrospect, the United States are playing for nothing against Sweden. It can lead to Sanderson getting a chance to play in the tournament at last.
Although Sanderson was added to the United States' roster late due to injuries, the 22-year-old has yet to play a game for his country. The United States have won both games without Sanderson in the lineup, but now the wait for Sanderson to play in the tournament could be over.
Sanderson would be able to play a game with Tkachuk, his Senators teammate and captain. Sanderson has already got to see Tkachuk make his presence known in the 4 Nations Face-Off by scoring the United States' first goal of the tournament, and getting into a fight three seconds in with Canada's Sam Bennett.
Hockey players take country pride very serious. For Sanderson, getting a chance to represent his country early into his NHL career, would be a high honor. An opportunity may have arrived for the Whitefish, Montana, native to represent his country tomorrow with the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game.