The championship matchup is officially set, with the USA and Canada facing off in the 4 Nations Face-Off final on Thursday after the round-robin stage concluded earlier today.
Canada def. Finland 5-3
Canada jumped out to an early lead with two quick goals from Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon in the first five minutes of the opening period. Finland mounted a late comeback, scoring three goals in the third period to pull within one with about a minute and a half remaining. However, Canada’s captain, Sidney Crosby, sealed the victory with an empty-net goal. With the win, Canada finishes the round-robin stage with five points and will face the USA in a highly anticipated rematch for the championship on Thursday.
Here's how Canada booked their ticket to the final including some late-game dramatics! 🎟️
— NHL (@NHL) February 17, 2025
📺: #4Nations Face-Off Championship Game THURSDAY at 8p ET on @espn, @ESPNPlus, @Sportsnet and @TVASports pic.twitter.com/VroMH2lKtE
Sweden def. USA 2-1
Although Sweden was already eliminated from championship contention, they played with pride against Team USA. Chris Kreider put the U.S. on the board just 35 seconds into the game, but Sweden responded with goals from Gustav Nyquist and Jesper Bratt. Goaltender Samuel Ersson had an strong game, making 32 saves to hand the U.S. their first loss of the tournament.
Team USA has been managing injuries to key players, with defenseman Charlie McAvoy (upper body) and forwards Matthew Tkachuk (lower body) and Auston Matthews (upper body) all missing the game against Sweden. Additionally, forward Brady Tkachuk left during the second period with a lower-body injury. All were held out for precautionary reasons, and they are expected to return for the championship game against Canada.
Catch the highlights from Sweden's win over the USA!
— NHL (@NHL) February 18, 2025
📺: #4Nations Face-Off Championship Game between Canada and the USA THURSDAY at 8p ET on @espn, @ESPNPlus, @Sportsnet and @TVASports! pic.twitter.com/ZJk17yeOqF
Final 4 Nations Face-Off Standings:
- USA: 6 Points (2 Wins and 1 Loss)
- Canada: 5 Points (1 Win, 1 Overtime Win, and 1 Loss)
- Sweden: 5 Points (1 Win, 2 Overtime Losses)
- Finland: 2 Points (1 Overtime Win and 2 Losses)
