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The USA took some casualties during the round-robin portion of the 4 Nations Face-Off, which included a to secure a spot in the championship. Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews both sat out the on Monday, while with an injury of his own. Entering Thursday's title game, Matthews and the Tkachuk brothers appear to be on track to suit up. The U.S. will be , who was replaced on the roster Tuesday by Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes. Hughes was supposedly headed to Boston to join Mike Sullivan and the USA team, but his arrival was delayed until Wednesday's announcement that he was not coming. Here's what you need to know about Hughes' status for the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game. 4 NATIONS FACE-OFF HQ Is Quinn Hughes playing vs. Canada? Sullivan initially said Hughes was going to Boston to join the USA ahead of Thursday's game, but he would not have been eligible to practice or play unle s another defenseman couldn't suit up in addition to McAvoy. As it turns out, Hughes didn't make it to Boston at all. After practicing with the Canucks on Tuesday and causing some confusion about his status, Hughes "wasn't medically cleared" to join the team, Pierre LeBrun reported. Team USA has been informed Quinn Hughes is not travelling here to Boston to join the team. Wasnt medically cleared. Sounds like Team USA looking at bringing in a couple of other players just as insurance, because of illne s going around. Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) Sullivan originally that the team would take the roster decision day-by-day, telling reporters the staff will take time to evaluate which "potential options might be available for us for the championship game and then well make decisions accordingly from there." Sullivan didn't indicate whether another defenseman beyond McAvoy is at risk of mi sing Thursday's contest. Matthews and the Tkachuk brothers have been dealing with injuries, but none of the three are defensemen and all are expected to play, for what it's worth. USA GM Bill Guerin said Wednesday that the team was still trying to get Hughes to Boston, even after he skated at Canucks practice on Tuesday, but the plan fell apart later in the day. Frank Ntilikina Jersey Hughes initially pulled out of the 4 Nations Face-Off after mi sing the Canucks' final four games of the first half with an injury. Unle s the status of another defenseman changes, he simply would have been an emergency piece on hand for Sullivan if he made the trip to Boston. Why can't Quinn Hughes play in 4 Nations Face-Off? Each team has seven defensemen on its roster, but only six can dre s. Even without McAvoy, the USA still has the requisite six defensemen who can dre s: Brock Faber, Adam Fox, Noah Hanifin, Jake Sanderson, Jaccob Slavin and Zach Werenski. For Hughes to suit up on Thursday, one of those six players would have needed to be ruled out with an injury or illne s. Canada also found itself needing to add a defenseman earlier in the tournament, but their injury replacement became eligible to play because both Shea Theodore (upper-body injury) and Cale Makar (illne s) were out for Saturday's game against the USA. Dallas' Thomas Harley played Saturday but initially had to watch Canada's morning skate from afar before Makar left the ice. Harley did not dre s for Monday's win over Finland with Makar back in the fold. MORE: Quinn Hughes injuryupdate Hughes was one of the first six players named to the USA roster eight months before the 4 Nations Face-Off, but he pulled out of the tournament on Feb. 9 due to an oblique injury. He was replaced by Ottawa's Jake Sanderson. Hughes mi sed the Canucks' final four games of the first half, briefly interrupting another stellar season for the reigning Norris Trophy winner. "He understands whats at stake," Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said after Hughes' decision. By pulling out of the tournament, Hughes pa sed on a chance to play alongside his brother, Jack. USA 4 Nations Face-Off roster Player Position NHL team Matt Boldy Forward Minnesota Wild Kyle Connor Forward Winnipeg Jets Jack Eichel Forward Vegas Golden Knights Jake Guentzel Forward Tampa Bay Lightning Jack Hughes Forward New Jersey Devils Chris Kreider Forward New York Rangers Dylan Larkin Forward Detroit Red Wings Auston Matthews Forward Toronto Maple Leafs J.T. Miller Forward New York Rangers Brock Nelson Forward New York Islanders Brady Tkachuk Forward Ottawa Senators Matthew Tkachuk Forward Florida Panthers Vincent Trocheck Forward New York Rangers Brock Faber Defenseman Minnesota Wild Adam Fox Defenseman New York Rangers Noah Hanifin Defenseman Vegas Golden Knights Charlie McAvoy* Defenseman Boston Bruins Jake Sanderson Defenseman Ottawa Senators Jaccob Slavin Defenseman Carolina Hurricanes Zach Werenski Defenseman Columbus Blue Jackets Quinn Hughes** Defenseman Vancouver Canucks Connor Hellebuyck Goaltender Winnipeg Jets Jake Oettinger Goaltender Dallas Stars Jeremy Swayman Goaltender Boston Bruins * - Out for championship game. ** - Added as injury replacement, can't dre s unle s another defenseman is injured. Julius Randle Jersey |
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