'I Take It As A Good Thing Or Maybe As A Sign Of Respect': Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews Had No Problem With Being Booed During 4 Nations Face-Off Opening Ceremony

Auston Matthews kind of saw it coming. 

When the Toronto Maple Leafs forward knew he was going to be part of the opening ceremony for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament and would be introduced to a Montreal crowd, the captain of USA knew he'd be getting some heel heat.

"Yeah, I was kind of expecting it. It's all good. I think a cool moment just to kick off the tournament," Matthews told reporters in Montreal ahead of USA's game against Finland. "Obviously, you know, seeing (Teemu) Selanne, (Mike) Richter, Mario (Lemieux), (Daniel (Alfredsson), some guys like that would see a big impact on this game before us. The ovation at Mario got was pretty cool. So, it was just nice to finally be a game day here today. I think everybody's just looking forward to get going."

Matthews held court with the media on Thursday morning ahead of his team's first game at the tournament. He discussed various topics including:

• The thrilling overtime in Canada's 4-3 win over Sweden. 
• Seeing Mitch Marner score a goal
• Not underestimating the Finland

Q: Is that a welcome for the US captain or the Leafs team member?

"I think a little bit of both. Yeah, a little bit of both. But like I said, I'd expect nothing less. So, it's all good."

Q: What did you think about the pace of yesterday's game (Canada/Sweden)? Just how quick it was and is that something you're expecting tonight too?

"Yeah, definitely. I mean, a lot of height and talent in this tournament. I think, you know, you see the pace of play, the physicality. I mean, this is best-on-best here. Four countries with a lot of pride and a lot of good hockey players. So, I think that's kind of what you would expect."

Q: How much did a game like that fire you guys up to get going?

"Yeah, I mean, it's, you know, it was fun to watch great players play hockey. But I think, you know, in watching that I think you're just looking forward to, obviously, the opportunity to play as well. So, today's our day. It's been three good practice days and then rolling right into it. So, once you get started and make sure, you know, we're starting off on the right foot, we're just prepared and prepared and ready to go."

Q: What was it like to see Mitch (Marner) play the hero. Such a great playmaker. But we've seen him go to that shot at overtime big moments. What was it like to see that last?

"Yeah, it was cool. I mean, you know, it's like I said, there's so many great players. I've been fortunate to play with him for nine years now. And, you know, pretty cool to see him get that home there."

Q: I imagine the boos will continue tonight. Like, Finland might be the favourite team amongst the fans. What's that do for you? What do you think that does for the team, if anything?

"I mean, I don't think it's anything that we're not accustomed to. I mean, you look around the room here, there's a lot of guys that don't mind playing that villain role. So, I don't think it's, you know, something that, you know, we really think about or it's going to make part or affect us. We go out there, stay focused, go play hockey, and you've got to be prepared."

Q: What do you expect from this Finnish team?

"Yeah, I mean, it doesn't matter who you're going to play. My experience playing, you know, Finland, Sweden,,tournaments growing up, world championships, stuff like that, I mean, they play a very structured game. They're very disciplined in their play and they don't make it easy on you to create offense on the inside. So, it doesn't matter who you're playing on this tournament, you're going to be playing some really good, really good players. A lot of these guys have played with each other in the past. Nobody's going to be taking it lightly. For us, it's just getting to our structure right away and making sure that it's out right from the start."

Q: What do you think of extending OT to 10 minutes? What do you think of it?

"Yeah, I think it's something to look at for sure. I mean, it's, I don't know, I think the shootout, especially in a tournament like this, I mean, you don't want to see a shootout like that. Three-on-three is so exciting. There's so much back and forth. So, I think definitely something to look at."

Q: And what about the three-point system? Do you think regulation wins should count more in the regular season?

"Yeah, I don't know. That's not really a question to give me. "

Q: You played in Montreal so much, just being accustomed to that feeling of being in enemy territory. How does it, how comfortable are you in that seat?

"Yeah, I mean, we played here quite a bit and obviously, it's always a great atmosphere. I think it's something you just embrace and have fun with. I mean, if you're getting booed, you must be doing something right. So, in the end, you know, these are moments, games, situations that you kind of dream of playing in. So, I don't think there's really any issue in that."

Q: What's it like being in here? The Habs room? I'm not sure you've ever been behind enemy lines here before?

"Yeah, it's a little strange. Actually, World Cup (2016) we were back here a little bit. So, I'm a little bit familiar with the space, but I mean, it is what it is. It's nice to have the home ice tonight and get to use the facilities and stuff. It definitely feels strange."

Q: What was it like standing on the ice when Mario walked out last night?

"Yeah, pretty incredible. You know, obviously, who he is. I don't think anybody really saw or knew it was coming. So, just to see that reaction, the chants and then obviously them screaming his name throughout the end of the ceremony was pretty cool."

Q: Did you get to talk to them at all before you guys were on the ice?

"Yeah, a little bit. A little bit. I mean, Selanne, Richter, obviously we were able to get shuffled out there. So, pretty cool to have that reaction before those guys.

Q: If I was in your shoes last night, I would have considered that the greatest compliment ever. Like, nobody boos people they don't know Like, do you take it that way?

"Yeah, definitely. I mean, like I said, we played here, you know, quite a bit. And I'm pretty accustomed to the boos, especially in this building. So, like I said, I take it as a good thing or maybe as a sign of respect. But,like I said, this is a great building to play in on the road. And it's always a great atmosphere in here. So, I think it's something that you look forward to."

Q: There's also, like with Marner scoring the overtime winner last night, is it like a playoff series? Like, you don't communicate with the enemy? Like, normally I bet you'd probably send him a text and say, "Congratulations." What are the rules for something like this?

"Yeah, I don't know what the rules are. I'm happy for him. Like, I love Mitch. He's one of my closest friends. And I think just in this situation of playing on different teams, I think the main focus is just on your team right now. And focusing on that. But, like I said, I mean, I'm happy for him. Obviously, he wasn't against our team. So, you know, it was cool to see him in that moment. Being from Canada, just, you know, playing in Montreal, playing in Canada, that moment, it's a big one. So, it's pretty cool to see him."

Q: Knowing your focus is on your own team, Auston. Seeing Nate (Mackinnon), Sid (Crosby), and (Connor) McDavid connect on a goal right away to start the tournament. How does it get your own juice flowing to have that kind of impact as one of the players that USA will count on?

"Yeah, it's pretty cool. I mean, just like as a hockey fan, looking at it, you know, obviously, pretty cool to see three guys like that playing together, connecting on a goal. I mean, it's, you know, some of the best players that are in the game today and that we've ever seen. So, you know, it's always fun to watch good hockey like that."

Q: Auston, '97 birth year, is there going to be some instant chemistry? Because I'm talking to Zach (Werenski) and Charlie (McAvoy) and (Noah) Hanifin and they kind of feel like it's cool, you guys, to get the band back together a little bit. And you guys know each other's tendencies and follow each other's goals. With the instant chemistry do you feel a bit of that?

"Yeah, definitely. I mean, I think just, you know, being back together is a great feeling. And I mean, all of us, you know, play against each other quite a bit. I mean, myself, Matthew (Tkachuk), Charlie (McAvoy), Brady (Tkachuk), all in the same division. So we see each other quite a bit. So it's nice to be on the other side. But I mean, I think in the end, we're all good hockey players. We're all smart. You know, no matter who you're playing with here, you're going to, you know, play with some really great players. But I think, especially when you have that comfortability with each other, playing with each other in the past, you like to think that, you know, that can serve some confidence."

Q: One last thing. Drew Doughty, who's played, whatever, 1,200 games, Cup Finals, Olympics, last night was the fastest game he's ever played. And did it, I mean, you're watching on TV, but did it translate, like, the actual speed of the game?

"Yeah, it seemed like, I mean, it seemed intense, it seemed fast. I mean, when you put that amount of level of skill and talent and speed on the ice, you know, I think that's something you can expect, but you never really know until you experience it. So, I mean, from our point of view, just watching it, it shows that way."