The 4 Nations Face Off, an international hockey tournament between hockey powerhouses Sweden, Finland, Canada, and the United States took place last week. The tournament is in its first year taking the place of the traditional All-Star Game, and playing in two parts. First, a group round-robin style tournament that decided who would advance to the final, taking place between the two teams with the most tournament points (three earned for an overtime win, two for a regulation win, and one for an overtime loss). Captain Sidney Crosby and Team Canada brought home the trophy on an overtime win to defeat Team USA Thursday at TD Garden in Boston.
The face off began with a battle Feb. 12 between Sweden and Canada with the Canadians not waiting to make their mark. Nathan Mackinnon, later named tournament MVP and leading scorer, took the lead for Canada 56 seconds into the game. Throughout the game, the tension remained high and at the end of regulation, the score was tied at three. In overtime, Canadian Mitch Marner’s snapshot ended the game and gave Canada their first victory. Crosby ended the game with three assists and was named First Star of the game.
The following day, the United States showed no mercy in their matchup against Finland, beating them six goals to one. This scoreline can in large part be attributed to the Tkachuk brothers, Brady and Matthew, who each scored twice to seal the victory for Team USA.
Saturday, Feb. 15, Sweden took its second consecutive overtime loss, this time against Finland, 4–3. Sweden’s effort, including goals by Swedish stars Mika Zibanejad, Rasmus Dahlin, and Erik Karlsson, fell short, as Finland’s Mikael Granlund ended the game less than two minutes into OT. The same day, the United States topped Canada in a 3-1 thriller. While analysts initially worried that Canada would not be able to match the USA’s physicality, the rivalry sparked three fights in the first nine seconds of the match and a lot of checking in the hour that followed. While Canada’s Connor McDavid scored early, Team USA followed with three unanswered goals to take the win and guarantee them a spot in the final.
The last day of the group stage began with a high-scoring contest between Canada and Finland, with Canada winning 5–3 and clinching their spot in the Face Off Final three days later. The fate of this game seemed set going into the third, as Canada was up 4–0, but in the final seven minutes of the game, Finland cut Canada’s lead to one with less than two minutes remaining on two goals from Granlund and one from Esa Lindell. Nonetheless, Finland was not able to complete their comeback, and Crosby hit an empty netter with a minute remaining marking the end of Finland’s Face Off run.
The United States also suffered their first loss of the tournament that day, falling to Sweden 2–1, though they had already advanced to the final with their win against Canada. Chris Kreider scored for the US 35 seconds into the contest, but Sweden quickly scored two first period goals to take the lead, which they would keep for the rest of the game. Even though Sweden ended their run in the Face Off with no regulation losses, they did not earn enough points to advance to the final.
The Finals
Leading into the final, tensions were understandably high. The game was physical, but unlike the first matchup, the first nine seconds of the game, and the following hour proceeded with no one dropping the gloves to fight.
The game started fast, with Mackinnon opening the scoring five minutes in with a goal for Canada, giving them an early 1–0 lead – just like the first matchup. Just like the first matchup, Team USA scored quickly to tie it, this time the equalizing goal coming from Brady Tkachuk.
The second period played out similarly, with both teams each scoring another goal, before a third period that, despite 27 combined shots, left the teams tied at two going into overtime. If this were a regular NHL game, players would come out for a three vs. three five minute period of overtime, which would be followed, if necessary, by a shootout. In the 4 Nations final, like in the NHL final, the US and Canada would continue to play 20 minute five-on-five periods until someone scored.
In the end, it only took 8:18 of overtime for the game to end, won by Canada on a wrister by McDavid. Those watching McDavid score his “Golden Goal,” couldn’t help but be reminded of when Crosby scored his own golden goal in overtime of a US-Canada matchup in 2010, cementing his status as an NHL legend. McDavid is already a legend, but this Golden Goal feels like even more of a passing of the torch between greats.
Overall, 4 Nations was much more engaging than the typical All-Star game – and significantly more profitable for both the NHL and the NHL Players Association. The international competition led to weeks filled with entertaining fights, incredible goals, and overall impeccable vibes. The All-Star game is scheduled to return next year, but after that, we absolutely favor more international competition, especially if it will be as wild as this.
