Drew Doughty Drops a Savage Response to Fighting Matthew Tkachuk in the Final
Drew Doughty is pumped for Thursday's final between Canada and the USA, and he just issued a massive statement to Matthew Tkachuk to be ready.
The United States-Canada rivalry, and the Matthew Tkachuk-Drew Doughty rivalry, will take center stage in the 2024 4 Nations Face-Off title game Thursday.
Tkachuk, who started the latest altercation with a scrap against Brandon Hagel, has been a thorn in the side of opponents, playing his trademark grit and relentless style across all 200 feet of ice.
The Doughty-Tkachuk feud goes back many years
Since his debut in the NHL in 2016 with the Calgary Flames, Tkachuk has gained a reputation for being an agitator, getting under the skin of Doughty during heated battles between Calgary and the Los Angeles Kings.
It began during the 2016-17 season when Tkachuk's elbow sent Doughty crashing to the ice, and the defenseman then called him a "dirty player." A few years later, Doughty spoke on the record again, saying he had "no respect" for him.
During an interview after Canada's 4-3 win over Finland on Monday with TNT's Paul Bissonnette, Doughty spoke about his continued disdain for Tkachuk.
They have not played each other as much since Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers in 2022. But he made his presence felt on Saturday, inciting a fight just nine seconds into the contest.
He skipped Monday's contest against Sweden to rest after exiting Team USA's 3-1 win over Canada with a lower-body injury.
![Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Brandon Hagel (38) controls the puck during the third period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/529746.webp "Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Brandon Hagel (38) controls the puck during the third period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images")
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) plays the puck and Team United States defenseman Charlie McAvoy (25) defends in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/529619.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) plays the puck and Team United States defenseman Charlie McAvoy (25) defends in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
