The Sheet with Jeff Marek - On the Sheet: Tyler Yaremchuk on Canada's Comeback Win Against Finland

Episode Date: February 20, 2026

Tyler Yaremchuk joins the show to break down Canada’s 3–2 win over Finland and what it means heading into the gold medal game at the 2026 Milan Olympics. The guys start with the embellishment controversy around Nathan MacKinnon and whether the late power play was earned or gifted, before shifting into a bigger conversation about leadership and why the captaincy debate between Connor McDavid and MacKinnon doesn’t really matter in a short best-on-best tournament.They dive deep into the Sidney Crosby injury storyline, including the custom brace reports and what it would mean for Canada if Sid can’t go Sunday — plus how Finland’s missing Aleksander Barkov impacted this semifinal. Tyler also defends Jordan Binnington, arguing Canada doesn’t need “great,” just timely saves, and explains why John Cooper’s trust in the Bennett–Marchand–Wilson line could be a major factor in the final.To close, they look ahead to a potential USA matchup, highlighting Team USA’s elite puck-moving defense, Connor Hellebuyck’s ceiling, and what would worry Canada most in a gold medal showdown.Leave a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheSheetEmail us: [e-mail] TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼Uber Eats: https://www.ubereats.com/caReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoffReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tyler, thanks so much for hanging on and coming aboard as always here on the postgame program. Wide-brushed thoughts on this one. Greg is up on the grassy knoll. He's there with the president talking about UFOs and conspiracies and there's aliens amongst us. And how did you see this game? I mean, if you've played hockey at an outdoor rink and a stick comes within an eyelash of your face, your natural reaction is to be like, whoa, that's about to hit me in the eye. So any sort of establishment, like, is insane. saying like natural movement to be like something just swung and hit me in the mouth.

Yeah. So natural. No embellishment whatsoever. He's just. And obviously the referee knew exactly what happened. As soon as the stick hit McKinnon's face, his arm was up. It wasn't moments later when he saw McKinnon react that he made the call. Eagle eyes on these officials during this game.

Pretty amazing. Eagle eyes on these officials. So right. So right. And on the end of the game. Let's drag the whole conversation into a referee. bias. Let me let me let me start off with Tyler since since Canadians have spent the majority of the last few months arguing that Austin Matthews shouldn't wear the sea. Should McKinnett have gotten

the sea instead of McDavid in this game? No. I mean, I think the kind of letters at tournaments like this are kind of overblown anyways on that whole conversation like I think the leaders in the room are the leaders in the room and the letters are just kind of I don't want to say for vanity but like that's kind of what it feels like sometimes like I don't know if this game's going in overtime? Do you think it's McDavid stepping up and saying something like, yeah, okay, probably. It's definitely Sid, but there's probably a Marchand and a doubty too. And for USA, like, just

because Matthew's wearing the seat, do you think J.T. Miller just zips and is like, not my team. I won't say much. I think it's all kind of... I just thought a guy who actually has won something in the NHL and then comes up and scores, the game winning goal in a semi-file in the Olympics should maybe wear this captaincy, but... No, I understand what Canada is.

It's a whole place. The game-winning goal, like, the game-winning goal at the Four Nations? Refresh my memory. I'm getting a little bit older. Who scored that one? I mean, I tend to put more value on the Olympics than a prefab tournament made up because they couldn't figure out how to put Russia in the World Cup.

But that's just me. I mean, I don't know. That's just me talking here. I don't want to turn this into Yeremtruck versus Wyshinsky. And I know that you're poking me with a little bit of older stuff. I'm just happy here to chill out. You made a comment earlier about how like Alexander Barkov is like, he would have shut down Connor McDavid with ease.

And like, didn't Connor McDavid set records in those cup finals? Like, let's not pretend like Barcoff. shutting down McDavid was the reason Florida won Cups. But again, I don't want to turn this into like an Edmonton, whatever. Line matching, line matching does happen in certain, in certain cities when you're on the road. And I may

believe the Evanton Oilers probably had a power player too, but no, I think, I think Barkoff makes a huge difference in this game, especially with Sid out of the lineup. No, he totally does. And the one way where I'll actually lean with you a little bit on that is like, Sid not being out for Canada, huge, but like, Sid was playing. I mean, it's so

dumb to even say this line. Sid was playing as the third line center. Barkoff would have been one C, every important draw. I think you can easily make the argument. That injury is the most significant injury that could have possibly happened to any team coming into the tournament. I think now you probably look at the end. It would be

in trouble without 97, but yeah, I mean, it's significant that there's no Barkov in this tournament. I think it's full credit to them for like, never mind pushing Canada in this game, but like making it this far without Barkoff is just wildly impressive for them. Outside of us losing Seth Jones, yeah, I think you're right. It's probably Barkoff.

I don't even have anything to say to that. You know what? You know what it sounds like? It sounds like, okay, so Canada's through, so someone's nervous now. So someone's nervous at all. They got to play Slovakia. Hey, listen, remember what I said before the tournament? I thought Germany was going to beat Slovakia.

I picked them to beat Slovakia in my picks on ESPN.com because I thought the Americans would have to play Finland. The toughest road was Sweden, Finland. So, I mean, Canada's road through Finland, exponentially tougher than the Americans road through Slovakia. I'm not saying that they're going to beat Slovakia today. I think the fact that they're playing a team with like a dozen guys who all won the bronze medal together. Like, they

play cohesive and they have chemistry and they play tough. And if the goal he plays as well as he's played in the tournament, the Americans could be in trouble. But by no means, do I think the United States had a tougher semi-final match from Canadians did? Here's the thing that I think now, and this is one for like,

not to sound like arrogant or smug, but for newer hockey fans are understanding now. Hold on. that players play differently when it's for their country than it does when they're in the NHL. And case in point in this game that we just saw, Eric Halla, who by the way has the best nickname in the NHL,

I think it's self-given and that is Hall of Fame. But he was excellent again. It's the best nickname in the league. It's the best nickname. But like something, and that's the thing that makes tournaments like this so dynamic. They are different. Look how good,

sorry, do Jersey Devils fans, although he looks like you're getting a really good one here. Look how good. Simon Nemich looks with Martin Feivari. Look how good Feivari looks. Does he look that good when he plays with the Capitals? Does Nemmich look that good well maybe at times? But consistently when he

plays with New Jersey Devils, Nemmich won top three defensemen in this tournament. Something happens. Yeah, and you can make the argument. He went as high as he did in the draft because of how he played in the Olympics. In the Olympics? Like he just yeah, exactly. Okay, what are you taken away from this one, Tyler? I mean, eyes

on Sunday morning now, bright and early Canada. Either keep your Saturday night going. or get a good night's sleep, make your choice, choose your fighter. What do you take away from this one for Canada? And I think the big question is, are we thinking the Crosby's in on Sunday or not? I mean, everything you're kind of hearing. I know Elliot had the report that they were searching around for a custom brace and they're doing everything humanly possible. Like, again, without being in the room, I think my assumption is like, they're going to find a way to get him on the ice.

They now have an extra couple of days here or whatever you'd call it, 36 hours before the gold medal game. I'm not great at time. But I think they're going to do everything possible. And my bet would be that he's in just from the fact that it sounds like he got relatively close for this one. So the Crosby storyline is absolutely huge. My big takeaway, though, is that there were some other parts of this lineup that John Cooper really started to trust and not that the best coach in the NHL needs me to heap praise on him or anything like that or that it's unexpected that he's making the right calls. But like I tweeted when Sam Bennett took that penalty and listen, that's me being emotional. But it's like, Shouldn't see the ice the rest of the game.

That was a lot of that. He saw the ice a ton. There was a lot of that. Yeah. There's a lot of that. But you're right. Like that line, that line with Bennett and, uh, Bennett, and Tom Wilson got tons of love.

Tons of love. I mean, listen, every chance he got, and you can understand why, every chance he got, he was firing out McKinnon, McDavid, and Macklin-Cellibrini. By the way, when's the last time you saw? And I understand why. Like, UC Soros was a small goal tender in Kansas. Canada is going to be shooting high at every opportunity, specifically after slot line passes, where the goalie's going down.

But if you see a goalie hitting the head that much, as you see Saras was today, what do you take like three or four off the mask today? Cano just firing everything high. Only other time might have been Henry Flunkwist, but he does that on purpose. He tries to head the puck on purpose. Maybe the only other time I've seen it. Yeah, I think, I mean, that's definitely like point to the pre-scout, right? Like Soros is so good at taking away the bottom of the net,

ironic because of how the McKinnon goal went in. I know, but like, so good to take away the bottom of the net. And when a guy's also playing that well, I think you're kind of praying for a bounce as well. Like there was that one look in the third period where I think it was Wilson, Wilson, sorry, who threw it in front and Marchond was there and Bennett was there. And he was just trying to bank it in off the guy. Like that was not a shot attempt. That was not a pass attempt.

That was a pray we get a lucky bounce here at some point attempt. Because I think Soros was honestly on that level. Like my first thought when Canada went down to nothing was like, man, getting three on this guy tonight is going to be very, very difficult. Me too. Sorry, Greg, do you have something? I want to ask about ranting in here. I want to ask, Tyler, I don't know if you know this, but I'm an American.

Shocking. It's very pronounced this time of year, by the way, Tyler. I've known this guy going back to 2008. Crosby's obviously going to play in the gold medal game. And as much as I think the Americans could beat the Canadians, there's also a thought in my head that this is just like the entire East. conference waiting for Jordan to retire. Like, we cannot beat Canada in the Olympics as long as Sidney Crosby is on the ice for the

Canadians. So there is a part of me that fully expects him to play, and there's a part of me that expect him to get probably the assist on the game winner. Would you be shocked if he doesn't play? No, because I think Sydney, I don't think Sidney Crosby is so selfish as to sit there and say, if I can't go, I'm going to force myself to sit on the bench. And I don't think he's going to do that. I think he's going to sit there and say, if I can't give it my all and actually help this team win, I'm going to step aside and let someone else do it.

Similar to what a Braden point did before this tournament. And Greg, I am well aware of you're American, so you'll probably understand this. But like Matt Kachuk in the Four Nations final, man, if he does the selfless thing and sits for Kyle Connor, maybe a one shot makes a difference, no? As soon as you wound that one up, I'm like, oh, Tyler, with a shot at Matt Kachuk, I'm going to play. Period. I like the cut of your gym, Tyler.

The Miko Ranting and Goal, when you guys saw that. one because it can go either way. First of all, it's Miko Rantan. He's got one of the best shots in the NHL, one of the best players in the league. But did you look at that one and say, great shot or Bittington's got to have that? I said great shot. And part of that is because I've decided to officially retire from hating Jordan Bittington as much fun as I've had doing it over the last 12 to 18 months. I just, at some point, the evidence stacks up against you. If you're in the anti-Jordan Bittington camp, like overtime against USA, check. Overtime against Chek you, check. And then even today, like that third period, there were looks, man.

The Finns very easily could have scored. And a third goal probably seals it all up, especially if it comes, you know, before Canada goes up three, too, obviously. But like a third goal seals that thing up. And I think Jordan Bendington's been great all tournament. So I'm not going to nitpick a Miko Ranton and shot off a face off with the puck rolling. To me, that's similar to the pasturnat goal where like rolling puck chaos in front of them. I'm not going to rip the guy too hard for that one.

Like, again, does an A plus goalie of a Connor Hellebuck, you will stop it, yes. Canada doesn't have that, so I'm not going to sit here and try to, you know, yell at Jordan Bennington and try to make him something he's not. You can't fault him on either of the goals. And like you said, he played well in the third period. So it's, but here's, I'm with you. Listen, man.

I'm feasting in the dining car of the Bittington hate train, just like you. And, uh, and I'm a little perturbed by how well he's playing in this tournament, if I'm being honest. I was really hoping that if Canada made the gold medal game, there'd at least be some debate about Logan Thompson playing just to create a little bit of mystery or chaos. And instead it's like we may have solved our goaltending problem

because Jordan Bennington doesn't stink. Listen, I'm not going to knock Jordan Bennington. He has made good saves but the only thing and boy, am I going to get nitpicky on this one because you might make the argument that while Jordan Bennington doesn't have to make spectacular saves, they don't need Jordan Bennington

to make spectacular. They just need someone to stop the puck because that's Canada with like that arsenal that they have in front of them. Well, but that's it, right? Like, that's what you're saying about Jordan Binna. But he hasn't, and maybe it's because he hasn't had to. But I get it.

Like, when you say, like, oh, man, the rantin and shots great, no chance. Oh, you know what? The Hollis shorthanded goal, you know what? It's a great move. He's in clean. Like, he had no chance on that one. Like, those are the moments where, you know, what's the old Jim Collins saying? Good is the enemy of great.

Like, that's the moment. Like, you make those saves and then you start saying, you know what? This is a great goal. And again, you make the argument Canada doesn't need a great goaltender, but if good is the enemy of great, then still you say Jordan Pennington has been good. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe that's all Canada needs. But I'm sort of, that's where I'm at with the conversation about Jordan Pennington. He's good. Yeah. And my thing, like Canada maybe doesn't need a great goal. He's sure. Like my thing now is just like Canada doesn't have one. Like Logan Thompson, again, great with the Washington Capitals. I do think he's a very good goal. He's all that. He looked shaky in his one game. Like he's. He's a one game. Like, he's a lot. He looks shaky in his one game. Like, he's a lot. He's, he's If you were to hold up the first two preliminary round starts and say, who gives you more confidence, it was very, very clearly Jordan Bittington from those two games. So again,

I just feel like complaining about it to this point. He is what he is. He's going to make big stops. He's shown us time and time and now time again that he can do it. And, yeah, I mean, he's not going to make every big save, but I think we kind of know now that if the game's tied, he's not letting in that last one.

You know, first off, I have been sanctioned by GM Bill Guerin to put and keep Jake Ottinger for Macklin Celebrini on the table as a trade possibility before the gold medal game. But like, here, Tyler, assuming the Americans don't get Samuel Hullavide in this game, which they could, what is the part of Team USA that you've seen so far in these Olympics that worries you the most in the matchup against Canada? I think it again goes back to the strengths I viewed from the start of the tournament. It's like they're puck moving and the way their defense should be able to pretty cleanly get out of the zone.

not give Canada the second and sort of third opportunities into, you know, generate a sustained ozone pressure or attack, I should say. And then it's Connor Hellebuck, too. Like, you, you don't know if Connor Hellebuck's just going to wake up and be like, well, today I'm not giving up any goals. And I think he's more capable of being on that level than obviously any other goal tender. But I look back at like that Nick Suzuki goal that tied it up against Chekia, where, you know, he carries it in, chips it in, goes and gets a loose pocket. It's like a second and a third chance where Chekia's blue line, couldn't get it away from him, couldn't get it out of the zone. and boom, it's tied up.

I don't think the American Blue Line is going to make those kinds of mistakes. I think if you have a play like that against the States, it's going to be Werenski, McAvoy, Hughes, whoever picks it up, bang, bang out of the zone back the other way. So my concern is the puck moving won't allow Canada to get a lot of second and third chances, if you will. To tell, you got a pun. Everything you said just sounds awesome, by the way. That was just some catnip for Greg getting ready for this game that's going to start here in

just over an hour. T-Up, Oilers Nation. every day. We've got a healthy audience here that should probably know about you and your program. Yeah, me and Liam will break down the game to kick things off a little bit. And then Steve Peters, our good friend from Inside the Coaches, Hermitius. And he'll spring by. And he'll give us a little bit of a breakdown, not just on what he saw in the Canada game, but what to look forward to in USA, Slovakia, then we'll do maybe like a little, a little too early preview of what we all think or assume will be the gold medal matchup. So honestly, not a lot of Oilers talk at

Oilers Nation these days. Everyone just wants to talk more about Team Canada. And Connor McDavid, We haven't said this yet. There's the record for points in an Olympics with NHL participation. Oh, yeah. A big one for 97 again today. Yeah. And a shout out to the person in the Oilers Nation comments. It'll be screaming about how you should talk more about Paul Coffee as you.

What does the return to Paul Coffee mean? Our comment section right now is basically like Canada, Canada, then like six people being like, they didn't take Bouchard. And it's like, yes, we know they didn't take Bouchard. We've never did it extensively. It's all good. And then someone will be like, what care about Canada? Can they get Nick Purbix?

And it's like, what? I'm talking about that right now. They don't need Bouchard. They've got Shea Theodore shooting from the point. They don't need Evan. Listen, listen, there's a couple of defensemen. I would take Evan Bouchard over in this one. I think I've mentioned this on your program a couple of different times. Tyler, great stuff.

Best to Liam. Thanks as always. And Tyler, I guess we'll be talking again Sunday morning, bright and early. Canada versus either the United States or Slovakia. We'll stay tuned for that one. Thanks, Val. Good morning. See you.