2025 NHL 4-Nations Face-Off Final: Team USA at Team Canada (2/20/25)

 It all comes down to this and what a thriller it would be! Team USA and Team Canada are always spicy when it comes to international hockey battles, but due to recent events that go beyond the game, it's been kicked up several notches. So, with Team USA allowing NHL Players to return to the 2026 Olympics next year for the first time in several games and the title of 4-Nations Face-Off Champion on the line until that moment next winter, it was on like Donkey Kong in Boston! 

I enjoyed each team having an honorary captain. Of course, Wayne Gretzky had to be the honorary captain of Team Canada and Mike Eruzione had to be the honorary captain of Team USA. Mike wearing a Columbus Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau jersey as he walked onto the ice was a lovely addition to a historic moment, too. After the trading of gifts between Team USA's Captain A. Mathews and Team Canada's Captain C. McDavid, it was time for the Final to begin. 

I'm happy to report that this game didn't start as the first meeting between these two teams on Saturday, i.e. three fights in the first 00:09 of play! Instead hard checks and focused face-offs led to two goals this period. Visiting Team Canada would add the first goal to the scoreboard at 4:48 with N. MacKinnon's fourth of the tournament. T. Harley would pick up the primary assist, his first of the tournament, while S. Reinhart would add his fourth on the secondary. B. Tkachuk would electrify an already ear-popping TD Garden at 16:52, tying the game with his third goal of the tournament. The only assist on this goal would belong to Team USA's Captain, A. Mathews, and this would be his second of the tournament. As many expected, myself included, this would be a hard-fought game, and period one would end with a 1-1 tie. 

07:32 would pass in period two before these two hungry teams would see another goal, and that goal would become J. Sanderson's first of the tournament for Team USA! A. Mathews would add his third assist of the tournament and his second tonight while Z. Werenski would continue to make Team USA and Columbus proud with his sixth assist of the tournament. And, yes, six points is the most for any player in the tournament at this point. S. Bennett of Team Canada would snap Team USA's first lead of the night with his first goal of the tournament at 14:00. M. Marner would have the only assist, gaining the first of the tournament for himself. I'm not even shocked to say that this is how the second period would end with yet another tie, this time at 2-2. Sincerely, no matter who won this game tonight, the devotion to the sport, skill, and love of country for each player and coach involved in this game was shown without an ounce of doubt tonight. What an amazing game, and we still had at least a period left at this point! 

No goals would be scored in period three. The most emotional moment of this period, and quite possibly the whole game, was with minutes remaining in this final regulation period, TD Garden would erupt into 'Johnny Hockey' chants. Of course, this is in reference to Johnny Gaudreau, Johnny 'Hockey' who was tragically killed by a suspected drunk driver, along with his brother Mathew, last August. No doubt, Johnny Gaudreau would have played for Team USA in this 4-Nations Face-Off Tournament. Not only that, but he would have been in the final, playing in TD Garden, not far from where he played his college hockey at Boston College. I'm thrilled that after this moment the game went to overtime so I could compose myself and give this moment the highlight it deserved in this blog. With that moment given its due, to overtime we go where the team to score the next goal would hoist a trophy with country deep meaning. 

The 'Johnny Hockey' chants would continue in overtime as would the amazing shots taken by Team USA. It would take until 8:18 for a goal to come, and it would come at the stick of C. McDavid. His third goal of the tournament would end the tournament and give Team Canada the win. M. Marner would add his second assist on the primary while C. Maker would add his only assist of the tournament on the secondary. 

It's a tough pill to swallow for Team USA, but the men on this team have nothing to hang their heads about. This team had only a couple practices before facing the best players of Team Canada, Team Finland, and Team Sweden. This game and all those before were incredibly played and so much fun to watch. Who else is ready for the Winter 2026 Olympics? I sure am! 

With the game-winner, Conner McDavid would be the Player of the Game. 

N. MacKinnon would be the MVP of the 4-Nations Face-Off Tournament.  

Z. Werenski would finish with the most points across any player in the tournament with a 0-0-6. I can't wait to see how he closes out this season once back in Columbus as we are only 9 days from the first Stadium Series game in Ohio ever. 

A special note: I wish Charlie McAvoy the best as he continues to recover from the injury he suffered earlier in the 4-Nations Face-Off. It was great to see him in TD Garden tonight and released from the hospital. Of course, it wasn't the outcome Team USA and he wanted to see as far as the game went, but great to see him improving. 

I wish all players safe travels home and a good closeout to the season as the sport of hockey continues to forage on and collect fans. The Columbus Blue Jackets will be back in action on Saturday night, Feb 22nd, as they host the Chicago Blackhawks at 7:00 p.m.