Canada is champion of the 4 Nations Face-Off, continuing its run of international success, and it can thank the NHL’s top player.
Jordan Binnington made several strong saves in overtime to keep the game tied before three-time MVP McDavid connected. The St. Louis Blues goalie finished with 31 saves to come up big again in Boston’s TD Garden. He won Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final at the arena.
Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett scored for Canada while Jake Sanderson and Brady Tkachuk scored for the USA in regulation. Tkachuk’s brother, Matthew, couldn’t finish the game because of an injury.
The USA last won a best-on-best tournament involving NHL players when it beat Canada in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Canada has now won six of the last seven tournaments since then.
It won the 2002 and 2010 Olympics (beating the USA in the gold medal games both times) and the 2014 Olympics (beating the Americans in the semifinals). It also won the 2004 and 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Highlights from Canada’s win against the USA in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off:
USA vs. Canada highlights
Nathan MacKinnon named tournament MVP
USA-Canada scores: Connor McDavid wins it in overtime
Connor McDavid is left alone in the slot and scores after a pass from Mitch Marner. That was Marner’s second assist of the game. Cale Makar, who missed the first USA-Canada game, picked up the secondary assist.
Jordan Binnington strong early
He robs Brady Tkachuk with a glove save and then Auston Matthews off the next faceoff.
Overtime begins
The Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid lines begin the overtime.
4 Nations Face-Off overtime rule
The final’s overtime rule is just like the NHL playoffs. The teams will play 20-minute periods of 5-on-5 hockey until someone scores.
End of third period: USA 2, Canada 2
The USA and Canada had a tightly played period with the USA leading in shots 8-5. Canada had a flurry at the end. The last time the USA and Canada went to overtime tied 2-2 in a best-on-best championship game was the 2010 Olympics. Canada’s Sidney Crosby won that game.
Heading to overtime
Connor Hellebuyck makes a glove save on Cale Makar with six seconds left. We’re going to overtime.
Two minutes left in regulation
Still tied. No Matthew Tkachuk yet.
Jaccob Slavin block
USA defenseman Jaccob Slavin makes another sharp defensive play with a block of a Seth Jarvis shot.
Matthew Tkachuk update
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan said USA assistant coach John Hynes told her that Matthew Tkachuk was battling through an injury but the player told the coaching staff, ‘I can push through this.’ He’s expected to play a limited role in the third period.
Jake Guentzel stopped
Jake Guentzel chases down a loose puck after a Canada line change, but Jordan Binnington stops him.
Third period underway
USA’s Matthew Tkachuk is sitting on the bench.
End of second period: USA 2, Canada 2
Canada had the territorial edge again early in the period, but this time the USA scores the first goal of the period, by Jake Sanderson. Sam Bennett ties it up. Shots are even at 19 through two periods and the USA leads in hits 23-15.
Matthew Tkachuk hurting?
ESPN notes that he hadn’t been on the ice for seven minutes. He takes one shift of several seconds and returns to the bench.
USA-Canada score: Sam Bennett ties it for Canada
Mitch Marner finds Sam Bennett down low and he wrists a shot past Connor Hellebuyck. That’s Bennett’s sixth shot of the game and first goal of the tournament. USA 2, Canada 2
Canada goes on power play
Vincent Trocheck is called for tripping. The USA kills it off and gets a couple short-handed chances.
USA-Canada score: Jake Sanderson puts USA ahead
Jake Sanderson, who’s in the tournament because of the Quinn Hughes injury and in the lineup because of the Charlie McAvoy injury, puts the USA ahead at 7:31 after jumping on a loose puck. Zach Werenski gets an assist for his sixth point of the tournament. USA 2, Canada 1
Things get feisty
USA’s Jake Guentzel and Canada’s Thomas Harley shove each other after an offsides call.
Five minutes into second period
Canada dominating early on shot attempts. USA still doesn’t have a shot on net. Canada has three.
Second period underway
Score is 1-1.
End of first period: USA 1, Canada 1
Canada scored first, as it has every game of the tournament, as Nathan MacKinnon picked up his fourth goal. Canada kept jamming the front of the net and was dangerous early. But the USA tied the game on a Brady Tkachuk goal after coach Mike Sullivan had swapped Auston Matthews to that line in place of Jack Eichel. Canada has a 11-10 edge in shots. Tkachuk hit Canada defenseman Thomas Harley hard near the end of the period. The USA has outhit Canada 15-7.
USA-Canada score: Brady Tkachuk ties game
Auston Matthews is moved to the Tkachuk line. He brings the puck out front and finds Brady Tkachuk, who slams home a shot. It’s his third goal of the tournament. Tkachuk is showing no sign of the injury that knocked him out of the last game. USA 1, Canada 1
Dylan Larkin stopped
USA forward Dylan Larkin, who scored the winning goal in the first USA-Canada game, is stopped by Jordan Binnington on a breakaway.
Connor Hellebuyck saves
Seth Jarvis has a chance on a rebound, but Connor Hellebuyck makes a pad save.
Charlie McAvoy in the building
ESPN showed video of injured defenseman Charlie McAvoy in the USA dressing room announcing the starting lineup to his teammates. McAvoy has a shoulder injury and developed an infection. His arm was in a sling.
USA-Canada score: Nathan MacKinnon gets goal
Nathan MacKinnon beats Connor Hellebuyck through a screen after skating the puck to the point. He gets his tournament-leading fourth goal at 4:48. Thomas Harley, a late add to the game, gets the primary assist and Sam Reinhart has the second. Canada 1, USA 0
First stoppage of play
Good back-and-forth. Shots are 3-2 Canada. Brady Tkachuk throws a big hit.
4 Nations Face-Off puck drop
No fights as in the last USA-Canada game.
National anthems
Once again, the announcer asked for respect for the national anthems. There was a tiny bit of booing at the start of the Canadian anthem but cheers at the end. Wild cheering for the U.S. anthem. The U.S. anthem was booed when the games were played in Montreal.
4 Nations Face-Off starting lineups
Canada: Forwards Connor McDavid, Brayden Point, Mark Stone; defensemen Cale Makar, Devon Toews; goalie Jordan Binnington
USA: Forwards Jack Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk; defensemen Jaccob Slavin, Brock Faber; goalie Connor Hellebuyck
Mike Eruzione is honorary USA captain
The Miracle on Ice hero is wearing a jersey honoring the late Johnny Gaudreau. He leads the crowd in ‘USA, USA’ chants. Wayne Gretzky is the honorary Canadian captain.
What time is the hockey game tonight?
The USA and Canada will play at 8 p.m. ET at Boston’s TD Garden.
How to watch USA vs Canada tonight
The USA-Canada game will be aired on ESPN.
How to stream USA vs Canada tonight
Sling, Fubo and ESPN+ carry ESPN games.
USA vs Canada at 4 Nations Face-Off
Date: Thursday, Feb. 20
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Streaming: Sling, Fubo and ESPN+
Site: TD Garden, Boston
Team USA lineup
Team Canada lineup
4 Nations Face-Off lineups
Players are taking the ice for warmups. Early sign is that USA forward Kyle Connor, injured defenseman Charlie McAvoy and goalie Jeremy Swayman are the scratches. Chris Kreider, who scored against Sweden, will play his second game of the tournament.
Forward Travis Konecny, defenseman Josh Morrissey and goalie Sam Montembeault are the Canada scratches. Morrissey is ill, Hockey Canada said, so emergency replacement Thomas Harley will play his second game of the tournament.
Josh Morrissey out of lineup
Hockey Canada said the defenseman is ill and Thomas Harley is drawing in for the game.
USA, Canada leading scorers
Defenseman Zach Werenski leads the USA with five points, all assists. Canada forward Sidney Crosby also has five points (one goal, four assists). The USA’s Jake Guentzel and Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon are tied for the tournament lead with three goals. Guentzel scored two of them in Saturday’s win against Canada.
Mike Eruzione narrates ESPN broadcast opening
Keith Tkachuk, Matthew and Brady’s dad, won 1996 World Cup
Keith Tkachuk, the father of USA forwards Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, scored five goals for the victorious United States in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. The USA lost to Canada in the opener of the best-of-three final in Philadelphia but then picked up two wins in Montreal for the title. The older Tkachuk scored in the first win.
USA vs Canada championship game history
What’s different from last USA-Canada game
Canada will have defenseman Cale Makar back after he missed Saturday’s game because of illness. He has averaged 26 minutes a game in the tournament, though he is still looking for his first point. The USA, meanwhile, will be missing injured defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who played well against Connor McDavid in that game.
4 Nations Face-Off final predictions
Mike Brehm – USA 4, Canada 3 (OT): Canada’s top players will have a better game, especially with Cale Makar playing this time, but the USA will benefit from the return of its stars who missed Monday’s game. Give the USA the edge because Hellebuyck has outplayed Binnington in the tournament.
Jace Evans – Canada 3, USA 1: Being a USA hockey fan in the 21st century is a disappointing endeavor. And one man has been most responsible for that: Sidney Crosby. I expect Canada’s captain to rise to the occasion yet again and help power his team to another hockey championship. Two other reasons to pick Canada here? Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon – the two best forwards in the world.
Canada has won last three best-on-best tournaments
Charlie McAvoy to attend game?
Injured USA defenseman Charlie McAvoy could be in attendance at Thursday’s game, NHL.com reported. He has been ruled out of playing because of a shoulder injury and an infection in his shoulder. The Boston Bruins defenseman posted the following photo on social media.
USA, Canada injury updates
The United States is missing defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who suffered a significant shoulder injury. Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk, who missed Monday’s game, and Brady Tkachuk, who was hurt Monday, are expected to play.
Canada is missing defenseman Shea Theodore. Both teams reportedly also are dealing with illnesses.
Expected goaltending matchup
USA’s Connor Hellebuyck (2-0, 1.00 goals-against average, .957 save percentage) vs. Canada’s Jordan Binnington (2-1, 2.60, .892).
Canada’s Jordan Binnington had big win at Boston arena
Canada goalie Jordan Binnington will be playing in the visiting crease at Boston’s TD Garden. In 2019, the St. Louis Blues goalie stopped 32 of 33 shots to beat the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. That gave the Blues the franchise’s first championship.
President Trump wishes Team USA luck
President Trump called the U.S. hockey team on Thursday morning, wishing them luck against Canada in the championship game. USA general manager Bill Guerin told Fox News that he had hoped the president would attend the game, but Trump said he is addressing U.S. governors on Thursday evening.
4 Nations Face-Off schedule, results, TV
(Times p.m. ET)
Wednesday, Feb. 12: Canada 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
Thursday, Feb. 13: USA 6, Finland 1
Saturday, Feb. 15: Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
Saturday, Feb. 15: USA 3, Canada 1
Monday, Feb. 17: Canada 5, Finland 3
Monday, Feb. 17: Sweden 2, USA 1
Thursday, Feb. 20: USA vs. Canada, championship game at Boston, 8, ESPN
4 Nations Face-Off rosters
Players listed alphabetically.
Team USA
No., position, player, NHL team
12 F Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
81 F Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
9 F Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
59 F Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
86 F Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
20 F Chris Kreider, New York Rangers
21 F Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
34 F Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
10 F J.T. Miller, New York Rangers
29 F Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
7 F Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
19 F Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
16 F Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
14 D Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
23 D Adam Fox, New York Rangers
25 D Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins (injured, out of tournament)
15 D Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights
85 D Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
74 D Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
8 D Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
37 G Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
30 G Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
1 G Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins
Note: Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson and New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce are being brought in as possible emergency replacements. Here are the rules on whether they can play.
Team Canada
9 F Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers
71 F Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning
87 F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
38 F Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
24 F Seth Jarvis, Carolina Hurricanes
11 F Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers
29 F Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
63 F Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
16 F Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
97 F Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
21 F Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
13 F Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
61 F Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
89 Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
48 D Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars (emergency replacement)
8 D Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
44 D Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
55 D Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
6 D Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers
27 D Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights (injured, out of tournament)
5 D Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
50 G Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
33 G Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights
35 G Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens
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