Matthews said the 4 Nations experience, including the fact that Team USA came just one goal away from winning, whet the appetite of the entire team heading into Italy.

“I mean, I think it had that effect for everybody,” said Matthews, who had three assists in three games and served as U.S. captain for the event. “I think it was like that for all the players that were able to compete and for the fans that watched. I mean, it’s just so great for the game to have that aspect of it and just bring something new for the guys that haven’t been able to compete and do kind of best-on-best formats.

“So, I think it’s amazing for the game that we’re able to have NHL players there representing their countries. And, hopefully, that’ll kind of continue to grow the game and all the positive ways that it should.”

The last NHL games before the Olympics are on Feb. 5 with the first practice scheduled for Feb. 8. The U.S. plays its first game Feb. 12 against Latvia (3:10 p.m. ET; USA), so there is not much time to gell.

But Matthews believes the chemistry the U.S. built up during the 4 Nations will carry over to Italy. Just two players from the 4 Nations Face-Off — forward Chris Kreider (Anaheim Ducks) and defenseman Adam Fox (New York Rangers) — won’t be in Italy, while only three players who weren’t at 4 Nations — forwards Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres) and Clayton Keller (Utah Mammoth) and defenseman Jackson LaCombe (Ducks) — will be on the Olympic team.

“I’m excited that there’s a lot of guys that are coming back from 4 Nations,” he said. “I think it was a quick tournament, but I thought, you know, we bonded really quickly. We came together as a team very quickly. And a lot of us have played with each other, have known each other, kind of coming up through juniors, World Championships, World Junior, stuff like that. So, it’s important to kind of have that chemistry, that bond.

“I think there’s a lot of strengths. I just think that the cohesiveness that we had throughout that tournament, the way that we played as a team, it didn’t matter what role you had. Most guys are coming from their respective teams, where you’re playing on the power play, playing top minutes, things like that. And then you come to a team like (the U.S.) that has everybody kind of playing similar roles. You kind of have to buy into your role and do what’s best for the team. And I thought everybody did that.

“I mean, that’s a sign of a great team.”

Matthews took time out to praise Team USA forward Brock Nelson, who scored a hat trick in the Colorado Avalanche’s 4-1 victory against the Maple Leafs on Sunday. Entering play Monday, only Nelson (21) had more goals than Matthews (16) among U.S.-born players since Nov. 29.