After six round-robin games featuring Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland, it was the two North American teams that advanced to the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off. They had already played a physical game in their first meeting of the tournament, and the rematch for the trophy was expected to be just as intense.
The teams decided against the fisticuffs that featured in the start of the first game earlier in the tournament. It was a nervous start for both sides as the puck was fumbled by several players on earlier rushes.
After surviving an early push from the home Americans, Canada began to hold more possession of the puck and slowly increased its shot total. The fourth Canadian shot of the game came off the stick of Nathan MacKinnon from the point, finding its way through a group of bodies in front of Connor Hellebuyck and counting as the game’s opening goal.
NATHAN MACKINNON 🚨 CANADA STRIKES FIRST!
— Omar (@tictactomar.bsky.social) February 20, 2025 at 9:34 PM
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Despite the early marker, the play was still dominated by nervous energy, advancing in fits and starts as no one wanted to make a mistake and few chances were generated. But like Canada had done in the opening part of the period, the Americans began to get more shots on target, and that eventually resulted in the tying goal.
Auston Matthews took the puck around the net and all of the Canadian players tried to defend against his wraparound attempt. No one saw Brady Tkachuk creeping into the low slot, and he collection the puck from Matthews to score on a point-blank shot.
Brady Tkachuk ties it
— Omar (@tictactomar.bsky.social) February 20, 2025 at 10:03 PM
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After a relatively tame opening to the game, the physicality began to turn up in the second period with more hits and post-whistle scrums. The teams were able to get a few quality looks, but the tight checking continued to dominate the play with little room for the superstars of the game to make creative plays.
It was in that style that Team USA claimed its first lead. They got the puck on net with traffic in the slot, and Jodan Binnington kicked out a rebound several feet in front of the net. Jake Sanderson was there to accept it and send the puck past an out-of-position Binnington to put Team USA up 2-1.
Sanderson gives the US a 2-1 lead
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) February 20, 2025 at 10:40 PM
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Canada got a chance to tie things right back up with a power play as Sam Bennett was tripped up by a stumbling Vincent Trocheck. As they were in the first game versus the Americans in the tournament, they were too focused on setting up a pretty goal than simply getting any type of shot through. Even with Jake Eichel forced to defend without a stick, they didn’t get any dangerous looks on Hellebuyck.
It was Hellebuyck’s turn to kick out a puck to the slot with half the net open. He got a major helping hand from his defence to prevent a goal from happening when Jaccob Slavin whacked the puck away a split second before Sidney Crosby was going to knock it in.
What a play from Slavin to save a goal
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) February 20, 2025 at 10:52 PM
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Canada did find the equalizer moments later, however. They benefited from a turnover at the benches to launch a quick counter-attack. Mitch Marner delayed after gaining the zone to create a bit of space, found Bennett with a pass, and watched as his linemate waited for Hellebuyck to drop down to make a save before sending the puck over the goaltender’s shoulder.
SAM BENNETT 🚨 WHAT A PLAY!
— Omar (@tictactomar.bsky.social) February 20, 2025 at 10:55 PM
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Canada almost reclaimed the lead about five-and-a-half minutes into the third period off a point shot, but it was deflected off the left post behind Hellebuyck. With how close the checking was, it seemed like it would be that type of shot that would be required.
The momentum had swung in Canada’s favour as the third period went on, with more zone time for the visitors at TD Garden. Despite the pressure, they couldn’t find a way to make the final pass or get a shot through the American defence.
As the final seconds ticked down, the Canadians were the ones still getting the chances and looking for the winner. They came close on a couple of occasions to finding a late winner, but the 4 Nations Face-Off would need sudden-death overtime to decide a champion.
The first great chance in overtime came to Auston Matthews as he accepted a pass from below the goal line from Jake Guentzel. Matthews got a lot on the shot, but Binnington made a critical save to keep the game going.
Brady Tkachuk had the next great look on a shot from just above the goal line, but Binnington reached back and snagged the puck to keep it out. After the faceoff, the goaltender stopped another shot from Matthews, this one deflected by a Canadian defenceman in front of him.
With their goaltender doing his part at one end, Canada took care of business at the other. With a rare bit of space to work with in the offensive zone, Connor McDavid was able to accept the puck right in the slot on a pass from Marner, and he simply had to pick his spot, the glove-side top corner, to secure the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy for Canada.
Connor McDavid wins it in OT
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) February 21, 2025 at 12:29 AM
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