The United States and Canada will be playing in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game on Thursday and Team USA will have a bit of unexpected help in the form of Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes.

Ottawa Senators captain and Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk has publicly criticized the Vancouver Canucks for blocking Quinn Hughes from joining Team USA ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada.

Hughes was named to the U.S. roster in June but bowed out due to an oblique injury. He can't play unless another defenseman is unavailable.

The USA took some casualties during the round-robin portion of the 4 Nations Face-Off, which included a 3-1 win over Canada to secure a spot in the championship. Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews both sat out the Americans' matchup with Sweden on Monday,

Drew Doughty is day to day because of a lower-body injury that kept the defenseman out of the Los Angeles Kings' game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.

With defenseman Charlie McAvoy out for the 4 Nations Face-off final against Canada on Thursday, head coach Mike Sullivan reassured everyone that a strong player was waiting in the wings and on the

After days of wondering whether Quinn Hughes will join Team USA against Canada in the 4 Nations championship, a final decision has been made.

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The Vancouver Canucks defenseman, who had to drop out of the tournament Feb. 9 because of an undisclosed injury, practiced for a second straight day in Vancouver on Wednesday, this time with a regular jersey. He practiced Tuesday in a red, non-contact jersey.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman criticized the rule on Tuesday in a column for Sportsnet and argued that the tournament’s unexpected success should warrant more flexibility. “Let everyone be eligible to play,” Friedman wrote. “I understand the idea going into this event: no additions unless there’s an emergency.

The Boston Bruins say defenseman Charlie McAvoy won’t be able to play for the United States in the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off on his home ice because of an undisclosed upper-body injury.

With Hughes unavailable, Team USA has extended invitations to Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson and New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce to join the team in Boston as injury replacements. Like Hughes, Thompson and Pesce would only be available to play if another member of the team is unable to play.