Auston Matthews' fate with Team USA has been sealed
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is looking to have a big Olympic campaign with Team USA, and he just got some huge news ahead of Thursday's game.
Auston Matthews is currently at the Winter Olympics, where he is looking to win a Gold Medal with Team USA. He is the captain of the squad, and lots of responsibility rests on his shoulders.
On Thursday, the Americans will play their first game of the tournament, against Latvia. While Latvia is an underdog, they always seem to get phenomenal goaltending.
Matthews and his teammates will have to figure out how to overcome adversity, and they are going to be watched very closely by teams like Canada and Sweden.
With that being said, there has been a lot of fanfare surrounding Team USA, its lineup, and who Matthews would be paired up with.
Auston Matthews' linemates are cemented
As you can see, Matthews is going to be on a line with Matt Boldy and Jake Guentzel. He will be on the second line and not the first.
The first line is actually going to be a mix of the Tkachuk brothers and Jack Eichel. Quite frankly, this is the perfect mix of players.
Brady Tkachuk-Jack Eichel-Matthew Tkachuk
Jake Guentzel-Auston Matthews-Matt Boldy
Kyle Connor-Dylan Larkin-Tage Thompson
Jack Hughes-Brock Nelson-Vincent Trocheck or JT Miller
Quinn Hughes-Charlie McAvoy
Jaccob Slavin-Brock Faber
Jake Sanderson-Zach Werenski
Connor Hellebuyck (projected starter)
Jake Guentzel-Auston Matthews-Matt Boldy
Kyle Connor-Dylan Larkin-Tage Thompson
Jack Hughes-Brock Nelson-Vincent Trocheck or JT Miller
Quinn Hughes-Charlie McAvoy
Jaccob Slavin-Brock Faber
Jake Sanderson-Zach Werenski
Connor Hellebuyck (projected starter)
Connor Hellebuyck will be the starter for the United States, and it remains to be seen if any other goaltenders will get into the net.
For now, however, much of the attention is rightfully on Matthews, who needs to show that he can make things happen in high-pressure moments.
There is a lot at stake for the Americans, and they will want their superstars to be truly great.
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