Pressed, though, one likely would have given the edge to the young legs of Team North America -- as Team Europe forward Marian Hossa did before the game -- and that was exactly how it played out.
Starting in the second period, Team North America poured it on, burning the defense pair of Roman Josi and Zdeno Chara with three goals in fewer than five minutes of a 4-0 win at Videotron Centre.
"Our team was built on speed and skill, and we exploited that tonight," Team North America forward Nathan MacKinnon said.
It started 3:52 into the second period, after Team Europe defenseman Luca Sbisa committed the first penalty of the game. Team North America, players 23 or younger as of Oct. 1, took advantage, with MacKinnon scoring the first of his two goals when a shot by Aaron Ekblad bounced to him off the end boards. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was next with an unassisted goal at 6:22, followed by Johnny Gaudreau at 8:34.
MacKinnon scored his second on a penalty shot at 11:52 of the third. Team North America coach Todd McLellan later said he thought MacKinnon was its best player in the game and praised his line of Nugent-Hopkins and Auston Matthews.
Team North America goaltender Matt Murray rarely was tested making 23 saves. Team Europe goalie Jaroslav Halak allowed four goals on 21 shots.
"I thought that we definitely saw a lot of speed from Team North America right off the hop," Team Europe coach Ralph Krueger said. "The adjustment to that speed took a while. I thought as we went on through the game, if you take away the goals, we were dealing with it better as time went on, and the third period was probably the best period. So we're going to build on that."
The tournament begins Sept. 17 in Toronto.
Goal of the game: MacKinnon scored the first goal for Team North America at 3:52 of the second period, after an Ekblad shot bounced off the end boards to him on the power play. MacKinnon, who played very well overall, roofed the puck over Halak.
Save of the game: Team Europe got what would turn out to be a rare chance in the first period, with captain Anze Kopitar getting back-to-back whacks at a puck in close on Murray at 2:30 of the period. Murray got his left pad on the puck and kept it out of the net.
Unsung moment of the game: Just before Team North American scored its second goal, by Nugent-Hopkins, Matthews caused a turnover that kept the puck in the offensive zone and led to the score.
Highlight of the game: MacKinnon was dragged down by Mark Streit on the way to what might have been a goal against Halak. The Colorado Avalanche forward was awarded a penalty shot, and after a back-forth, back-forth move that evoked words like dirty and filthy, MacKinnon buried a backhand.
They said it
"We've called Team North America the fastest team in the tournament from the start. Which we also are grateful we're playing them twice. If I was going to have adversity, I'd rather have it right here, right now, so we can have things to work on. We're not embarrassed by the score. We've definitely got to work to change it." -- Team Europe coach Ralph Krueger
"We knew what was coming. Everybody's aware, obviously, of their speed and skill and play-making abilities. … It's obviously nice to play against a team like that too, because in Toronto there'll be speedy teams too and we're going to have to be ready." -- Team Europe captain Anze Kopitar
"I got booed when I played junior here." -- Team North America forward Nathan MacKinnon on getting an ovation from the Videotron Centre crowd when he was introduced
"Speed and hockey sense were on full display tonight." -- Team North America captain Connor McDavid
Need to know
There were reports that Hossa went to a hospital for X-rays after the game. There was no information on Hossa from Team Europe afterward, but he reportedly rejoined them to travel to Montreal. … Former Colorado Avalanche coach Patrick Roy got the biggest ovation of the night after he came out for the pregame puck drop. … McDavid was named Team North America captain before the game. "It's a tremendous honor," McDavid said after the game. "I feel very lucky to be named captain. I was really looking forward to getting this thing started. … Very happy and humbled to be wearing it, but there's [22] other guys in that locker room that could wear it as well."
What's next
Team North America: A pretournament home game Sunday against Team Europe in Montreal (6 p.m., ET; ESPN3, SN, TVA Sports).
Team Europe: A pretournament road game Sunday against Team North America in Montreal (6 p.m., ET; ESPN3, SN, TVA Sports).
via WCH2016.com.
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