Today Canada kicks of their exhibition schedule against their neighbor to the south. The United States and Canada will face each other in both teams' first exhibition games. This is usually one of the more heated rivalries on the international scene and the fact that the game doesn't count in the standings probably won't cool things off too much.

Canada's "fourth liner" Joe Thornton thinks it will be testy

Joe Thornton says he expects a "feisty" game with rival Team USA tomorrow despite it being just an exhibition pic.twitter.com/EntH00KIq9

— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) September 8, 2016

The United States has famously built their team in an effort to match up best against Canada. Dean Lombardi, John Tortorella and the rest of Team USA's decisions makers believe that by being touch and gritty they will slow the big red and white machine down. This dated approach is not likely to work. In fact I can't think of too many players on Team Canada that can be pushed around. Maybe Matt Duchene? But does that really even matter when you take into consideration just how good of a skater and how skilled he is?

To have your best shot at beating Canada you have to send your best players. The United States is not doing that. Canada should be able to roll four lines and control the game for the most part. The Pacrioetty-Pavelski-Kane line is a really good line but that is USA's best and Canada's "worst" line is Duchene-Giroux-Thornton with Corey Perry as an extra.

Tortorella: "That has been the whole mantra, inflicting, not being inflicted upon." Doughty: "I don’t know what inflict means."

— Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) September 9, 2016

Canada doesn't seem too concerned about the USA's approach.

Jack Johnson is going to play against Team Canada. I find it hard to believe that any one of those four lines won't be licking their chops at that opportunity.

It will be Jonathan Quick up against Carey Price (first start in nine months). Here are some other news items about the lineups this evening

For Team USA, D Erik Johnson and F James van Riemsdyk will be healthy scratches tonight. Jonathan Quick to start in nets.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) September 9, 2016

Babcock confirms Perry and Boumeester will sit tonight

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) September 9, 2016

Weird choices for the USA. For Canada I suppose somebody has to sit.

One interesting dynamic about the game is that it will pit the Conn Smythe award winner against his Stanley Cup winning head coach. Sidney Crosby will compete against Mike Sullivan for the first time since the Massachusetts native took over the Penguins team.

Goaltender Braden Holtby is doing something really cool charity related with his mask

Braden Holtby's mask that he will be auctioning off after the WCOH to support Gord Downie's charity of choice. pic.twitter.com/qiXwXm2eIr

— Scott Salmond (@SAMMYSAYS2010) September 9, 2016

The feeling I get with this game is that it means a lot more to the United States who are trying to pump themselves up into believing their "identity" while Canada will be looking to just get going this tournament.

Anytime Canada's national team plays it is must see TV.

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In the spirit of Canada and the United States getting along Team North America put Connor McDavid with Jack Eichel and Johnny Gaudreau today(!) Now that is fun.

Thanks for reading!

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