MONTREAL — In a thrilling contest marked by early chaos and aggression, the United States emerged victorious over Canada, clinching a spot in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The match, which kicked off with three fights in less than 10 seconds, was exactly what U.S. player Matthew Tkachuk envisioned. “We needed to send a message. The message we wanted to send is ‘It’s our time,’” Tkachuk stated confidently.
The game saw Tkachuk engage in a fight with Brandon Hagel right off the opening faceoff. Moments later, Tkachuk’s brother, Brady, tangled with Sam Bennett, followed by J.T. Miller exchanging blows with Colton Parayko. The hostilities set the tone for what became an intense battle, culminating in a 3-1 victory for the Americans over their storied rivals.
Dylan Larkin, who scored the pivotal goal in the second period, described his experience as “one of the best” of his life, calling the match an “unbelievable hockey game.” He commended the Tkachuk brothers and Miller for their courage and noted the electric atmosphere created by the crowd. “It was a great night for our sport and a fitting tribute to this rivalry,” he added.
The pace of the game was fast, and the physical play was evident throughout. Many anticipated this showdown during the round-robin rounds, and it lived up to expectations with fierce confrontations right from the start. The intensity of the match was seen in hard hits delivered by Charlie McAvoy on star players like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, along with crucial saves from goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who faced 24 shots.
U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan praised the game, calling it “incredible.” The backdrop of this intense matchup was heightened by lingering tensions between the U.S. and Canada, as fans in the sold-out Bell Centre, which housed 21,105 attendees, extensively booed the U.S. anthem prior to the puck drop. Almost immediately, Tkachuk challenged Hagel, igniting the early fights.
Brady Tkachuk quickly followed suit, engaging in his own bout just seconds later. Miller’s confrontation with Parayko added to the early chaos that coach Jon Cooper of Canada described as “pure mayhem.” Cooper remarked, “It was, I guess, 10 years of no international hockey exhaled in a minute and a half.”
Though the U.S. found themselves in a tough spot initially—both Tkachuks ended up in the penalty box for the first five minutes—Canada’s Connor McDavid showcased his skill by scoring a stunning backhand goal over Hellebuyck, putting Canada ahead. However, Jake Guentzel responded by beating Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington, evening the score midway through the first period.
Team captain Crosby added to Canada’s struggles with an uncharacteristic turnover, which allowed Larkin to capitalize on a 2-on-1 break to score the go-ahead goal. “He’s not afraid to shoot it,” noted Brady Tkachuk, praising Larkin’s decisive shot that ultimately turned out to be the game-winner.
Despite Binnington making several crucial stops, Canada’s offense faltered, and they were unable to capitalize again, even in the absence of top defenseman Cale Makar due to illness. Guentzel netted an empty-net goal in the final moments to secure the win for the U.S. Now, with McDavid, Crosby, and Nathan MacKinnon leading the way, Canada faces a must-win battle against Finland on Monday.
“It’s kind of like a Game 7,” McDavid acknowledged, highlighting the pressure of the moment. “A lot of guys in this room have been in that situation before. We’ve got to get a win.” Meanwhile, the U.S. has nothing riding on their final game against Sweden, but there are concerns regarding Matthew Tkachuk, who was unable to finish the match due to a reported lower-body injury.
“I feel good,” Tkachuk reassured, downplaying the injury. “Definitely way better after a win. Should be all good.”
The tournament now shifts to the TD Garden in Boston, where Canada will conclude round-robin play against Finland at 1 p.m. before the U.S. takes on Sweden at 8 p.m. on Monday.
