United States’ Dylan Larkin (21) hits the post behind Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) as Colton Parayko (55) defends during second period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.(Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
United States’ Brady Tkachuk (top) fights Canada’s Sam Bennett (9) during first period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada’s Brandon Hagel, left, and United States’ Matthew Tkachuk (19) fight during first period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada’s Sidney Crosby (87) is checked by United States’ Charlie McAvoy (25) as Vincent Trocheck (16) looks on during first period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada’s Colton Parayko (55) fights United States’ J.T. Miller (10) during first period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
United States’ Dylan Larkin (right) celebrates his goal over Canada with teammate Matt Boldy (12) during second period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
United States’ Dylan Larkin (left) celebrates his goal against Canada with Matt Boldy, left to right, Jaccob Slavin and Brock Faber during second period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fans watch as the players from Canada and United States warm up prior to the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, , Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada’s Sam Bennett (9) checks United States’ Jaccob Slavin (74) defends during third period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Show Caption1 of 9United States’ Dylan Larkin (21) hits the post behind Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) as Colton Parayko (55) defends during second period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.(Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
ExpandMONTREAL — Dylan Larkin scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and the United States beat Canada 3-1 in the 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday night, wrapping up a spot in the championship game by winning a game that started with three fights in nine seconds and was played at a blistering pace with physicality throughout.
The most anticipated game of round-robin play did not disappoint, from the fisticuffs off the opening faceoff to big hits from Charlie McAvoy on Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid and more than a few vital saves by Connor Hellebuyck among his 24. And the U.S. showed it could keep up with Canada’s speed, skill and talent in the first international event with the NHL’s best players in nearly a decade.
It all unfolded against the backdrop of uneasy tensions between the North American neighbors and longtime allies, with many fans in the sellout crowd of 21,105 at Bell Centre loudly booing throughout the pregame rendition of the U.S. anthem. That spilled onto the ice as soon as the puck was dropped, with American power forward Matthew Tkachuk asking Brandon Hagel to drop the gloves and the fourth-line Canada winger engaging in the fight two seconds in.
Brother Brady Tkachuk did the same with Sam Bennett the moment the puck was dropped on the ensuing faceoff three seconds in. U.S. center J.T. Miller cross-checked Canada defenseman Colton Parayko and the two went at it to make it a trio of bouts in the early going.
The old-school pugilism did not go great early for the U.S., with the Tkachuks in the penalty box for the first five minutes. McDavid accelerated around the top defensive pair of McAvoy and Zach Werenski and roofed a backhander over Hellebuyck that few goaltenders around would be able to stop.
But Canada’s questions in net continued when Jake Guentzel beat Jordan Binnington five-hole midway through the first period to tie it. And the perpetually reliable captain Canada, Crosby, made a rare mistake with a turnover that, combined with a bad line change, paved the way for Larkin to score on a 2-on-1 past the midway mark of regulation.
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The U.S. has nothing to play for against Sweden that night, but there is concern about Matthew Tkachuk after he did not finish the game because of an apparent injury. Tkachuk skated around several times in the third to test out whatever was bothering him and sat at the end of the bench for the rest of the period.
Up next
The tournament shifts to Boston for games Monday, with Canada finishing round-robin play against Finland at 1 p.m. and the U.S. against Sweden at 8 p.m. at TD Garden.
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