MONTREAL – The U.S. Men’s National Team will face Finland here tonight at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) in its first game of the 4 Nations Face-Off, a four-team international competition featuring the best NHL players from the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden.
The last time an international competition was staged where the best men’s senior-level players were available to each nation was the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, more than a decade ago.
“Everyone is excited,” said Auston Matthews, captain of the U.S. Men’s National Team and also the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. “I know this tournament is something we’ve all been looking forward to and it’s finally here.”
“It’s an honor to coach this team and I know our entire coaching staff feels the same way,” said Mike Sullivan, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team and also the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. “This group of players is as deep of a team as we’ve perhaps ever had and that’s a credit to so many people, starting at the grassroots level in communities across our country.”
GAME STATS
STARTING NETMINDER
Sullivan has named Connor Hellebuyck, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner from the Winnipeg Jets, as the starter in goal for Team USA tonight. He is 34-7-2 this season with a 2.06 goals against and .925 save percentage. Hellebuyck has represented the U.S. in three IIHF Men’s World Championships and also played for Team North America in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
SERIES HISTORY – CANADA CUP/WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY
The U.S. and Finland have met six previous times in Canada Cup/World Cup of Hockey events, with Team USA owning a 4-1-1 advantage. The last meeting between the two teams was in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey with Finland earning a 2-1 win in St. Paul, Minnesota.
ABOUT TEAM USA
Team USA’s roster has 11 states represented (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania) … On average, Team USA players are 6’2” and weigh 204 pounds .. Team USA’s average at is 28. Brock Faber is Team USA’s youngest player (8/22/02) with Jake Sanderson (7/8/02) not far behind. The oldest member of Team USA is Chris Kreider (4/30/91) with Brock Nelson a close second (10/15/91) … A total of 15 players on Team USA competed at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, which plays in the USHL, the only Tier I junior hockey league in the U.S.
NEXT GAMES
The U.S. will face Canada here in Montreal on Saturday (Feb. 15) before the tournament shifts to TD Garden in Boston, where Team USA will tangle with Sweden in its final round robin game on Monday (Feb. 17). The top two teams after round-robin play will compete for the championship on Thursday (Feb. 20) at TD Garden.
Hit the ground running on day one in Montreal #4Nations pic.twitter.com/BulbmPSEEp
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 11, 2025
Source: usahockey.com