Canada falls to the US in a narrow 4 Nations rivalry matchup

There were no medals to be handed out and neither team was getting eliminated at the end of the game, but Saturday’s 4 Nations Face-Off meeting between Canada and the US was a thrilling battle for both teams in front of a loud Montreal crowd.

The match marked the first time in nearly nine years since these two countries played each other in a men’s best-on-best hockey event, and with the recent political environment, it was a heated match from the start.

The whistle blew and immediately Brandon Hagel began fighting Matthew Tkachuk, marking the first of a trio of fights to occur in the first nine seconds of the game.

HAGEL AND TKACHUK DROP THE GLOVES TO START THE GAME 😱

(🎥: @espn) pic.twitter.com/44gzmrX6xo

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 16, 2025

With the fighting out of both team’s systems, the Canadians got the scoring started courtesy of Connor McDavid.

The Oilers captain received the puck while skating through the neutral zone and sped past a pair of American defenders.

McDavid then buried a backhand shot past Connor Hellebuyck to give Canada a 1-0 lead.

WHO ELSE!?

CONNOR MCDAVID OPENS THE SCORING 🔥

(🎥: @espn) pic.twitter.com/AVw4WIHW6b

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 16, 2025

Canada's lead was short-lived. At the halfway point of the first frame, Jack Eichel brought the puck down the ice and found Jake Guentzel, who evened the score for the US.

The match continued to be extremely physical to the delight of the roaring crowd as Canada tried to regain the lead late in the opening frame on a power play.

The US managed to kill the penalty and send the game to the second period tied 1-1.

Both teams went back and forth in the middle frame exchanging hits and shots on net, but it was the Americans who ended up breaking through on a turnover.

The puck found Dylan Larkin and he took off on a breakaway, burying the puck in the back of the net to take a 2-1 lead.

USA LEADS 👀

Dylan Larkin beats Binnington clean to make it 2-1.

(🎥: @BR_OpenIce)pic.twitter.com/FiRYq3rFiR

— BarDown (@BarDown) February 16, 2025

The Canadians came out fighting in the third period, but nothing was getting past Hellebuyck.

Eventually, the Canadians pulled their goalie and Guentzel capitalized on the empty net to score the dagger and make it 3-1, the final score.

Jordan Binnington stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced in the net for Canada.

The Canadians will now face Finland on Monday and need a win to set up a rematch against the Americans in the tournament’s finale.