Canada and USA Battle it Out at Four Nations Face-Off

In addition to the Sweden vs. Finland game, last Saturday’s slate for the NHL Four Nations Face-off featured a highly anticipated matchup between Canada and the United States. This game, the first best-on-best matchup between the two countries since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, had fans wondering whether it would be intense or more of a toned-down All-Star Game kind of play.

From the opening puck drop, these questions were immediately answered. At the very beginning of the game American winger Matthew Tkachuk and Canadian winger Brandon Hagel fought a spirited scrap to set the tone. On the very next play, Team USA’s Brady Tkachuk and Team Canada’s Sam Bennett also dropped their gloves. Just seconds later, one more tilt between J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko had Montreal’s Bell Center ablaze. Although no more fights occurred after the first nine seconds, the players did not shy away from further physicality. Combined, both teams racked up 49 total hits, with a few stand-out open-ice ones firing up the teams and fans.

Clearly both countries were eager to get going and left it all out on the ice to continue the rivalry. Just a couple of minutes later, Connor McDavid put Canada on the board with a sweet backhand breakaway goal. However, Team USA’s Jake Guentzel would respond soon after, tying the game at 1 apiece. The 2nd period saw both teams dialed in and creating offense until a miscue on Team Canada’s part led to USA’s Dylan Larkin scoring to make it 2-1. In the 3rd period, Canada, eager to tie the game, could not penetrate Team USA’s rock-solid defense backed by goalie Connor Hellebuyck. The Americans played strongly in the neutral and defensive zones, limiting Canada’s superstars and making key saves when they needed it most. In the dwindling minutes of the game, USA scored an empty-netter to seal the deal and stamp their ticket to Thursday’s Championship game.

After Canada pulled out a win against Finland on Sunday, they are set to have a rematch with the hot USA team in the finals.

Team USA has a couple of question marks surrounding players like Matthew Tkachuk, who missed the majority of the 3rd period due to a lower-body injury, although he is expected to be a driving force for the team on Thursday.

While the championship game will likely not feature 3 fights at the beginning of the game, expect the matchup to be very physical and intense; one surely for the record books.