MONTREAL – It’s one of the most highly anticipated games on the international hockey calendar in recent memory, as the U.S. Men’s National Team faces Canada tonight at a sold-out Bell Centre at 8 o’clock on ABC. It’s the second round-robin game of the 4 Nations Face-Off for both teams, an event that features the best NHL players from the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden being staged by the NHL and NHLPA.
GAME STATS
GAME NOTES
LINES
“It’s a game everyone is excited about, and as coaches, we share that excitement with our players, staff and of course the fans,” said Mike Sullivan, head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. “We know it will be an electric atmosphere inside the Bell Centre and I know our players are very much looking forward to the game.”
The U.S. is coming off a 6-1 win over Finland on Thursday behind two goals each from brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk. Defenseman Zach Werenski also added three assists and Connor Hellebuyck made 20 saves to pick up the win in goal. The U.S. yielded the first goal of the contest before scoring six straight. Two goals in the first :26 of the third period extended a narrow 2-1 U.S. lead after 40 minutes to a more comfortable 4-1 advantage.
Canada played its tournament opener on Wednesday and gained a 4-3 overtime win over Sweden after the visitors rallied from a two-goal third period deficit to force the extra session.
SERIES HISTORY – CANADA CUP/WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY
The U.S. and Canada have met 14 times in previous Canada Cup/World Cup of Hockey events and Canada holds a 10-3-1 (W-L-T) advantage. The last meeting between the two teams was on Sept. 20, 2016, in Toronto with Canada gaining a 4-2 win. Montreal is home to one of most celebrated moments in American hockey history as the U.S. erased a 1-0 deficit in the best-of-three championship series of the 1996 World Cup of Hockey with 5-2 wins in both game two and game three to earn what is its last senior-level men’s championship.
AT STAKE
Not only is national pride at stake tonight, but with a win in regulation, the U.S. would guarantee a spot in the championship game on Feb. 20 regardless of the outcome of its final round robin game in Boston at TD Garden on Monday (Feb. 17) vs. Sweden.
Postgame with coach and Brady being the first recipient of Johnny Hockey's jersey #4Nations pic.twitter.com/NzRbKBTnlH
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 14, 2025
Source: usahockey.com