Paul Henderson believes Canada is ‘in good hands’ ahead of 4 Nations Face-Off final

Paul Henderson knows a thing or two about showing up on the international stage.

While he’d go on to play 707 NHL games with various teams, he’ll always be remembered for scoring the game-winning goal in three straight games to lead Canada to victory over the Soviet Union during the 1972 Summit Series. His only other time representing Canada was at the next Summit Series two years later, but the Soviets came out on top with a 4-1-3 record.

But for most Canadians, all that matters is what he did over those three games – and more so, the final. In a recent interview with The Leafs Nation’s Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and former NHLer Jay Rosehill, Henderson looked back at the experience, and what he thinks Canada is up against, pressure-wise, ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off final game against the United States Thursday evening.

Rosehill: That Canada-USA game, that’s kind of the slate everyone is looking for, with the two powerhouses. What did you make of that first game, when they went head-to-head, and obviously some fireworks off the start?

Henderson: Well, I tell you what, you have to give the Americans credit, they didn’t allow them to get many chances. The defence, on everybody, nobody had many chances to make a play. So, the Canadians just got outplayed, no question about it. I heard you guys talking about the goaltending, that was definitely the difference, I think.

Alberga: What did you think about the start of that game last Saturday? I don’t know about you, but we’re so pumped for this final on Thursday. But, that start, to have three scraps in nine seconds, very old school, wasn’t it?

Henderson: Well, I don’t know, the U.S. got booed like crazy, so I don’t know if the coach just said – ‘ok, let’s show them’, but it surprised everybody. I don’t think there was one person who thought the game would start like that. And, that was the end of it, so they started playing hockey.

Rosehill: This tournament in general, Mr. Henderson, what were your thoughts on it when they returned to best-on-best, and now that you’ve seen some of it, what’s your take now that you know how it’s gone down, and what it looks like?

Henderson: Well, I think Canada is going to win the next game, I really do. I think it takes a while to get to know one another and get the right lines together. So, I’m really anticipating it, but again, goaltending is usually in these things, whoever has the best goaltending tends to win. Because they’re all so talented, they’re going to get some shots up, so that’s what keeps us excited about it. Canada just seems to be able to do it when they have to. And, that’s our history, and I really think Canada is going to win the game.

Alberga: So, let’s say Team Canada lets you in the room prior to Thursday’s final, what kind of advice would you give them before they get out there?

Henderson: I’d tell them – ‘just go out and have fun’. And, don’t try to be doing more than you should be doing. It’s when you try to do things that you shouldn’t or are not capable of or you try to cover for somebody else that’s when you get in trouble. Go out there and have fun, and don’t get uptight about it. You have such great leaders on there who have done it over, and over again, so, I think we’re in good hands.

You can watch the full interview below: