The 4 Nations Face-Off is underway between the USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland, where the sport's marquee players are vying for a chance to take home the gold. Hosted by the National Hockey League, 4 Nations replaced the annual All-Star game this season.
The USA and Canada faced off last night. It’s one of the fiercest rivalries in sports, and that was evident when Canadians, not pleased with President Donald Trump’s plans to turn Canada into a state along with the tariff threats, booed the Star-Spangled Banner. They’ve been booing for days since this tournament started on February 12.
It's hilarious to me that America is basically shitposting jokes about Canada being a state, and CBC News is treating it like World War III is about to break out pic.twitter.com/bXaFgOx9Lc
— Sunny (@sunnyright) February 16, 2025
Greatest 9 seconds in hockey history pic.twitter.com/isy3o4MKVH
— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) February 16, 2025
MATTHEW TKACHUK AND BRANDON HAGEL DROP THE GLOVES OFF THE BAT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NlBt1UcHRf
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 16, 2025
NOW BRADY TKACHUK AND SAM BENNETT ARE THROWING HAYMAKERS 🔥
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 16, 2025
THIS IS USA-CANADA HOCKEY 😱 pic.twitter.com/TlqEfR0uIL
WE'VE GOT A THIRD FIGHT NINE SECONDS INTO THE GAME
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 16, 2025
JT MILLER AND COLTON PARAYKO 🚨 pic.twitter.com/EcYyGPl8Ir
It echoed throughout the Bell Centre in Montreal. It led to three fights in nine seconds in the first period. Canada drew first blood, leading 1-0, but then Team USA surged back, winning 3-1 and clinching a spot in the finals. Boo our anthem and get wrecked.
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How it started vs. how it ended 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/YStsLLpmAn
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 16, 2025
Canadian fans booing our anthem worked out pretty well. Motivated our guys to (literally) fight & win the game, plus got a bunch of Americans to watch/care about hockey. And Trudeau — who gratuitously criticized our election results — got to witness it all in person, a bonus.
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) February 16, 2025
Team USA was able to go toe-to-toe with Canada for the first time in years. Canadians will likely lean on the absence of defenseman Cale Makar, who didn’t suit up due to illness being a deciding factor. Maybe. It doesn’t matter. America won, and when the NHL regular season resumes, Lord Stanley isn’t coming back to Canada either (via ESPN):
PLAY FREE BIRD 🦅
— ESPN (@espn) February 16, 2025
USA defeats Canada in regulation and will play in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship‼️ #4Nations pic.twitter.com/LUse1rH2D7
WHAT A GAME!
— NHL (@NHL) February 16, 2025
Check out the highlights from USA's big win over Canada at the #4Nations Face-off! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/LS0LzwSy8s
The most anticipated game of round-robin play did not disappoint, from the fisticuffs off the opening faceoff to big hits from Charlie McAvoy on Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid and more than a few vital saves by Connor Hellebuyck among his 24. And the U.S. showed it could keep up with Canada's speed, skill and talent in the first international event with the NHL's best players in nearly a decade.
"That was one of the best experiences of my life -- just an unbelievable hockey game," Larkin said. "What a start, and credit to those guys for answering the bell. And the crowd, just a great night for our sport and a great night for this rivalry."
But it wasn't easy for the visitors. McDavid accelerated around the top defensive pair of McAvoy and Zach Werenski and roofed a backhander over Hellebuyck that few goaltenders around would be able to stop, giving Canada a 1-0 lead early in the first period.
But Canada's questions in net -- a major storyline heading into the tournament -- continued when Jake Guentzel beat Jordan Binnington 5-hole midway through the first period to tie it. And Crosby, Canada's perpetually reliable captain, made a rare mistake with a turnover that, combined with a bad line change, paved the way for Larkin to score on a 2-on-1 past the midway mark of regulation.
PUNCHING THEIR TICKET!! 🦅
— NHL (@NHL) February 16, 2025
USA has secured their spot in the #4Nations Face-Off Championship!
📺: #4Nations Face-Off Championship Game on February 20 at 8p ET on @espn, @ESPNPlus, @Sportsnet, @TVASports pic.twitter.com/G0U2hR9gUl
What a game.
Canada is now in a must-win situation against Finland on Monday in Boston, a team which the USA demolished 6-1 last Thursday.
Play FREE BIRD!
PLAY FREE BIRD. 🦅 pic.twitter.com/9PvgD7mawB
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 16, 2025
https://t.co/6F8SSHSELR pic.twitter.com/bBKUfh7E3E
— Ryan Mead (@OhRyanMead) February 16, 2025
— David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) February 16, 2025
Hearing word that the 51st state has lost to the United States in their best sport. SAD. pic.twitter.com/5ACRIAXemO
— Old Row (@OldRowOfficial) February 16, 2025
Canada jersey with 51 trump is craziest I’ve seen https://t.co/k93DHapjWS
— Owen Penney (@FlowPenn) February 15, 2025
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