4 Face-off nations: USA, Canada rivalry occupies the central stage in the finals of the tournament
4 nations will end exactly how National Hockey League He was pulled out by: the US-Canade finals.
Two teams fought on Saturday in what was their first meeting in the best format in the best order in nine years, and the terrible Montreal audience that broke the “Star Transparent” was delivered to the immediate treat with Three fights in the first nine secondsincluding two in the first three.
The rivalry extends in a lot of time, but with political tensions between the two countries, it is now hot than ever before.
Before we dive into the finals Thursday night, let’s look at the history of rivalry and how we reached the place we are today.
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Canadian Brandon Hagel, left, fights Matthew Tkachuka United States during the first period of the Face-off 4 nation in Montreal on Saturday. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press by AP)
World juniors have been nicer for Americans in recent years: each of the last four Gold Medal Games between the two countries has gone to Americans, recently in 2021. However, this is a big league.
The first meeting of two countries in the best format was in Canada in 1976, which Canada won, 4-2; Americans did not earn their first victory over their northern neighbors until the 1996 World Cup in 1996 after they lost seven of their first eight meetings and tied up in the second.
Now they beat the World Cup that year, taking home the best of three series against Canada, but since then it has been mostly Canadian dominance.
Going into the face of 4 nations, Canada went 6-1 against Americans from 1998 to 2016, and three of these victories were absolute cracks in the United States.
Canada took home a golden Olympic medal in Salt Lake City in 2002 through Americans, but better known, golden goal Sidney Crosby eight years later, he also came to the detriment of Team USA in front of the crowd in Vancouver.
Canada striker Sidney Crosby scores a goal to win in an extension against the US during the Gold Medal Medal for a men’s hockey medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. (Kyle Terada-Ussa Sports)
Four years later, Canada won the United States again in the Olympic semifinals. The only Victory of the United States in the aforementioned range followed during a group game at the 2010 Olympics, and their last meeting before last week was 4-2 wins in Canada in the 2016 World Hockey Cup in Toronto. So, it’s been a long time since the stars and stripes had the right to brag.
However, the best players of the countries would be on hyatus after problems with NHL, scheduling, traveling and covid-11. But a year ago, the NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that a new 4 nation of Face-off was born, and NHL players will return to the 2026 and 2030 Olympic Games.
Some skepticism, however, followed this tournament: “This tournament is fake. Will players worry? What if there is an injury like Edwin Diaz in the World Baseball Classics?”
But this brings us to this day, where almost a decade of missed opportunities plus a fierce political landscape brought the best rivalry in hockey to a new level, and that criticism is no longer.
Starting this month, in response to the upcoming tariff of President Donald Trump against Canada on the goods, the Canadian crowds have increased the state anthem of the United States during the sports events where the US team is visited. When Team USA played his first game of 4 nations last Thursday against Finland, one would think that the game was Plays abroadAlthough he was in Montreal.
Players and fans advocate for the American national anthem before the first period of the game 4 nations between Canada and the United States in Montreal on Saturday. (Christinne Muschi/Canadian Press by AP)
Quickly forward to Saturday night, when the turbulent crowd aroused the “Star Transparent” and then the gloves were lowered exactly to the opening between American star Matthew Tkachuka and Brandon Hagel from Team Canada. At the next confrontation, Matthew’s brother, Brady, fought against Bennett Sam, who was teammates with Matthew for Florida Panthers. Then, six seconds later, after stopping the goalkeeper, JT Miller threw his hands with Colton Parayk.
The electric crowd was already set on fire, and even more so when Canadian Connor McDavid opened scoring in the first period. However, the Team USA defense appeared, and the Americans scored three irresponsible goals to take their first victory against Canada in almost 15 years. The game has raised an average of 4.4 million spectators, the most watched hockey game Non-Stanley Cup since 2019.
The United States players celebrate after defeating Canada in 4 nations in Montreal on Saturday. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press by AP)
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Now two teams will go once again, this time in Boston for what is the warmest ticket in the city. The price price is over $ 1000, which is the best-selling NHL game of the season, and fans from 28 countries buy tickets for spectacle.
Team USA did not win the competitions against Canada from that series in 1996, in total, Canada has a record 13-4-1 over Americans, but on Thursday in the 4 Nations Face-off finals they may be worth 10 points.
The regiment falls into TD Garden at 20:00 et.
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