USA Defeats Canada in Electrifying 4 Nations Face-Off

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The United States fought their way to a fiery 3-1 victory at the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal against Canada on Saturday, securing a spot in the final while reigniting one of hockey’s fiercest rivalries. The game exploded into chaos within the first nine seconds, featuring three separate fights that set the tone for a physically charged contest.

Canada’s Connor McDavid opened the scoring, but it was all the US after than. Dylan Larkin delivered the game-winner in the second period and added an assist, while Jake Guentzel scored twice, including an empty-netter to seal the win. American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stood tall with 25 saves, frustrating a Canadian offense led by captain McDavid, who netted the team’s only goal. Despite the effort, Canada struggled without top defenseman Cale Makar, who was sidelined due to illness, and now faces a must-win game against Finland to keep championship hopes alive.

The Bell Centre crowd unleashed a thunderous chorus of boos during the U.S. national anthem before roaring in support of the home team. The intensity carried over onto the ice as Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel dropped the gloves just two seconds into the game. A second brawl followed immediately between Brady Tkachuk and Sam Bennett, and another six seconds later saw J.T. Miller square off against Colton Parayko. The raw emotion on display was a byproduct of the pent-up anticipation after a decade-long absence of best-on-best international men’s hockey.

“The mayhem was organic,” said Canadian head coach Jon Cooper. “It was 10 years of no international hockey exhaled in a minute and a half.”

McDavid ignited the building with a dazzling backhand goal in the first period, but Guentzel’s response at 10:15, sneaking a shot through Jordan Binnington’s pads, shifted momentum. Larkin capitalized on a rare Sidney Crosby turnover in the second, beating Binnington on a two-on-one to give the Americans a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Canada pressed hard in the third, but Hellebuyck denied McDavid and Crosby’s late attempts before Guentzel’s empty-net goal put this one away for team blue.

With this win, Team USA remains undefeated in the tournament and heads to the final in Boston. Canada, Sweden, and Finland are now locked in a tight battle for the remaining spot. McDavid framed Monday’s clash with Finland as a do-or-die moment. “It’s like a Game 7,” he said. “We’ve got to find a way.”

Canada will need to rally quickly, but one thing is clear: the rivalry is alive and burning hotter than ever.

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