After an explosive week of hockey, the NHL 4 Nations final will be held tonight in Boston as Team Canada and the USA face off for the championship. We’ve already seen it all during the 4 Nations tournament: intense fights, booing crowds, and nail-biting wins, so we’re expecting even more in the final tonight.
What is the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off?
The NHL 4 Nations tournament is a hockey event that features all-star players from four national teams: the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden. Each team plays three round-robin games, with the top two advancing to the championship final. This is the first 4 Nations tournament, and the first best-on-best hockey in 9 years. The tournament is ultimately a preview for next year’s Olympics.Â
4 Nations Timeline So Far
In case you haven’t been keeping up with the 4 Nations games, here’s a quick timeline of what’s gone on over the past week:
- February 12: Canada wins in overtime against Sweden 4-3.
- February 13: USA beats Finland in a 6-1 blowout.
- February 15: Finland beats Sweden 4-3 in a tight overtime finish, making this Sweden’s second loss in OT.
- February 15: In arguably the most exciting game yet, the USA defeats Canada 3-1. Within the first 9 seconds of the game, 3 separate fights break out, making this a game for the ages before the first shot on net.
- February 17: Canada beats Finland, 5-3, after Finland nearly came back in the third period, scoring 3 quick goals with less than 8 minutes remaining, before Sidney Crosby iced the game with an empty-net goal. The game set up the Team Canada vs Team USA final.
- February 17: Sweden ends the tournament on a high note, beating Team USA 2-1.Â
NHL 4 Nations Final Tonight
The NHL 4 Nations final will be played tonight, Thursday, February 20, at 8 p.m. ET at Boston’s TD Garden, and will see Team Canada and Team USA facing off for international hockey glory.Â
The preliminary games the USA played in Montreal infamously featured some fans booing the USA’s national anthem, reflecting the ongoing tensions between the two countries. As if this rivalry needed any more tension!
Tonight is the heavily-fueled rematch between the rivals on USA ice, and it’s for the finals of the 4 Nations Face-Off – so get ready for what could truly be the ultimate hockey battle!
