Canada Gets Their Revenge: The 4 Nations Faceoff Final
Canada won the 4 Nations Face Off in the final game against the United States. (Graphic courtesy National Hockey League)
By Daniel Casanta, Contributing Writer
The 4 Nations Faceoff, a new addition to the National Hockey League’s midseason break, has created fireworks. The tournament has showcased high-level competition between the best players from The United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden. After the dust settled, it left the U.S and Canada against each other in the championship.
The 4 Nations Faceoff was a huge success and this game was one of the most hyped up international games in recent history. Experts called this game the biggest one in North American hockey of all time. It drew sports fans of all types, not just hockey fans.
Keys to the Game
The USA and Canada faced off last Saturday, and in one of the most passionate games to date, the USA pulled away and won 3-1. After a night with multiple fights in the first nine seconds, bone-crushing hits and finesse goals both teams will adjust their game plan this time around.
Canada must play a heavier style to combat the USA. The U.S has a heavy personnel that hits very hard. Canada’s goaltending is their weak point, and they will look to break out and get the puck away from their defensive zone.
For the USA, they will do more of the same from Saturday night. They played a layered defense, which slowed down the breakneck speed of Canada’s goal scorers. Connor Hellebuyck, the goalie for team USA has been a brick wall this tournament, and they will rely on him to continue his strong play.
The Action
It looked from the beginning that Canada had the upper hand. Nathan Mackinnon netted an early goal in the first period to give Canada a 1-0 lead. Throughout the first 18 minutes of the first period the Canadians had superior puck control, and continued to put pressure on the Americans to score.
The tide shifted to the US team late in the first period as Brady Tkachuk scored his third goal of the event, tying the game at 1. Not far after, midway through the second period Jake Sanderson, the defensemen scored his first goal of the 4 nations faceoff. Not far after Sam Bennett scored the equalizer, tying things up heading into the final period.
As the USA chants rained down in Boston the third period was full of hits and near goals. However, neither team could crack the scoreboard and the score stayed 2-2. This game had a feel of a playoff game seven, and all attention shifted to the overtime period.
OT was going to be decided by a bounce, a breakout or a legendary move. The Canadian team led time in the offensive zone by three minutes heading into the period, and although it seemed like team USA had all the momentum throughout the OT period, Connor McDavid, the future hall of famer, scored the game winning goal eight minutes into the period. The Canadians made up for their loss last Saturday. Going into the game many Canadians felt it would be a national embarrassment to lose to the USA twice in the 4 Nations Faceoff, and McDavid was able to break the hearts of many Americans, and win the 4 Nations Faceoff for Canada.
Jordan Binnington, the Canadian goalie who was highly ridiculed, was the saving grace for Canada, making unreal save after unreal save in the OT period. It was a storybook ending for Canada and they proved they are still at the top of the heap in international hockey.
Postgame
McDavid, in a post-game interview, stated that this win “made the world to Canada,” although it wasn’t the prettiest. “We found a way, and my boys had my back.” McDavid, the three-time NHL MVP was named the player of the game, for netting the game winning goal in overtime.
Nathan Mackinnon, who scored the first goal of the game was named the tournament’s MVP. Mackinnon had four goals in the tournament, and was the offensive spark in the OT period that led to McDavid’s goal.
The next potential rematch will be in the 2026 Olympics, where Canada has the opportunity to display their dominance on a world scale.
