‘Role Player’ Larkin Steps Up in USA Win Over Canada

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin serving as a role player for Team USA was akin to using a Lamborghini as a mail truck.

Using elite players in secondary roles has long been a staple of playing best-on-best tournaments.  The hockey world appreciates that stars have accept those roles, without complaint, in the name of building a winning team. Larkin was no exception. He said before the tournament that he expected to play a bottom six forward role and was happy to do it.

But you would expect a difference-maker like Larkin would find a way to have an impact, and he did exactly that, producing the winning goal and assisting on the insurance goal in USA’s Canada 3-1 toppling of Canada at the 4 Nations Face-off. The win guaranteed USA a place in the Championship game Thursday in Boston.

DYLAN LARKIN AMERICAN HERO 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
pic.twitter.com/dRTYz4egh4

— Barstool Detroit (@BSMotorCity) February 16, 2025

After playing just over 11 minutes in the first game, Larkin logged 16:17 against Canada and scored on a 2-on-1 break to give USA a 2-1 lead at 13:13 of the second. Larkin was on the ice late in the third period. He made a precise cross-ice pass to Jake Guentzel who netted the empty-net goal at 18:41 of the third.

Memorable Game

The game was an instant classic. It started with three fights, two of them involving the Tkachuk brothers, in the opening 10 seconds. The tension between Canada and USA over President Donald Trump’s tariffs has added a layer to the already heated hockey rivalry. Some Montreal fans booed the U.S. national anthem before the game.

Jake Guentzel scores on the empty net to all but seal it for USA 🇺🇸 #4Nations pic.twitter.com/fZ0rRo818k

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 16, 2025

Larkin said the game was one of the best experiences of his life. “Just an unbelieveable hockey game,” Larkin said.

After starting the tournament on the fourth line, it will be interesting to see how much coach Mike Sullivan uses him moving forward. The Americans play Sweden Monday.

Matthew Tkachuk was injured in the game against Canada. He didn’t play the final 12:36 of the game. His status moving forward is unknown.