Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan has high praise for Jaccob Slavin after an epic performance in the 4 Nations final against Team Canada.

The Carolina Hurricanes, with Jaccob Slavin, will be in action Thursday versus the Buffalo Sabres at PNC Arena, beginning at 7:00 PM ET. Fancy a bet on Slavin in the Hurricanes-Sabres matchup? Use our stats and information to assist you.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin has arguably been the best defensive defenseman in hockey for a while now.

Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen were back at practice after the 4 Nations Face-Off, while Seth Jarvis and Jaccob Slavin arrived later, Jarvis with a medal.

The Hurricanes blueliner is a big reason his team is in the final against Canada (8 p.m. ET on ESPN), despite flying under some radars.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin of Team USA and winger Seth Jarvis of Canada remain in Boston, while Finland’s Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen head back to Raleigh.

People who don't watch many Wild or Hurricanes games could easily have missed just how good the duo are. Not anymore.

Jaccob Slavin made some ridiculous defensive plays during the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off between the US and Canada on Thursday night at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. Slavin was credited with two blocked shots on defense during regulation.

The Sabres look to carry their home-ice momentum on the road. The Buffalo Sabres head to Raleigh's Lenovo Center for a Thursday night matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes. Buffalo, 6-1-0 in its last seven games and riding high after Tuesday’s third-period comeback against Anaheim, looks to keep it rolling against a slumping-of-late Hurricanes team.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews is used to getting creative to beat Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin. But for two weeks, they were teammates at the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal and Boston with the United States of America.

Rantanen, who has back-to-back 100-point seasons and also played at that pace the two seasons prior, had just two points in six games with Carolina before the 4 Nations break, missing the last game due to injury. He had one assist on Saturday vs. Toronto.

Team USA has clinched a berth in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game thanks to a 3-1 win over Team Canada Saturday night. After a physical start where three fights happened in the opening nine seconds, the Americans actually found themselves trailing after Connor McDavid torched the US for a sick solo goal.