Canada is off to the 4 Nations Face-Off final. An old — and familiar foe — waits on deck.
Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon scored 46 seconds apart in the primary period, and Canada held on late to beat Finland 5-3 on Monday afternoon to establish a mouth-watering title game later this week against the US.
“They set the tone immediately,” Canadian captain Sidney Crosby said of the superstar forwards.
“That’s what you would like. Big plays from big-time players. They stepped up.”
Brayden Point also scored within the opening 20 minutes before MacKinnon added one other five minutes into the second. Crosby scored into an empty net after Finns scored thrice within the third. Jordan Binnington made 23 saves.
McDavid and Crosby chipped in an assist each for two-point performances. Canadian No. 1 defenceman Cale Makar returned to the lineup after a one-game absence on account of illness. Sam Reinhart added three assists.
Mikael Granlund, with two, and Esa Lindell replied for Finland. Kevin Lankinen allowed 4 goals on 13 shots before getting the hook. Juuse Saros finished with 14 saves.
The U.S. faced Sweden later Monday in a game that didn’t matter within the standings following Canada’s regulation victory.
The Americans beat their northern neighbour 3-1 in Montreal on Saturday in a physical affair, accented by a frenetic start that saw three fights contained in the first nine seconds, on the approach to clinching a berth in Thursday’s final.
The 4 Nations represents NHL’s players’ return to high-level international competition and is a major signpost ahead of a return to the Winter Olympics next 12 months. The NHL went to 5 straight Games from 1998 to 2014 before passing on 2018 for financial reasons. COVID-19 concerns then scuttled plans in 2022.
The Canadian national anthem was booed by pockets of fans at TD Garden before Monday’s puck drop — apparent payback for the jeering of “The Star-Spangled Banner” earlier within the tournament on the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Fans across Canada have booed the U.S. anthem at NHL and NBA games since U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs and said he desired to make one among the country’s closest allies its 51st state.
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McDavid opened Monday’s scoring at 4:13 of the primary off a brutal Roope Hintz turnover. The Edmonton Oilers superstar centre intercepted a blind clearing attempt, wheeled across the offensive zone and fired a shot in off Lankinen’s far post.
MacKinnon made it 2-0 at 4:59 on a drive to the online off a Reinhart feed.
“A variety of emotions after last game,” MacKinnon said. “We knew we needed to win this, and almost certainly in regulation, to advance. It was an excellent start.”
Point then potted a rebound at 13:02 before MacKinnon ended Lankinen’s day at 5:03 of the second when MacKinnon buried his second off a pass from Crosby.
Binnington made his third straight start despite not being joyful with the 2 goals — the third was into the empty net — he allowed to the U.S. on Saturday.
The netminder needed to be sharp later within the second when Travis Konecny turned the puck over within the defensive zone and Erik Haula had likelihood in tight before the Finns had a few other good possibilities to get on the board.
Lindell broke the shutout bid at 13:19 of the third. Granlund scored twice in 23 seconds with under two minutes to complete before Crosby iced it into the empty net to establish the U.S. rematch.
“You have a look at the last game and the intensity,” Crosby said. “Each teams got to know one another pretty much, pretty quickly. It’ll be an excellent challenge.”
Back to Binner
Canadian head coach Jon Cooper said pre-game it was a simple decision to begin Binnington as an alternative of Adin Hill against Finland.
Canada goaltenders Adin Hill and Jordan Binnington prepare for the team photo prior to 4 Nations Face-Off hockey practice in Montreal, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
“The child’s played great for us,” Cooper said of the St. Louis Blues goaltender. “He’s given us a likelihood to win. In case you can limit an opponent to 2 goals or less in a game it should offer you a likelihood to win.
“He did that for us the opposite night. It was lack of goal scoring that hurt us.”
Back in red
Makar returned after missing the U.S. loss despite skating Saturday morning.
The Canadians were permitted to bring alternate Thomas Harley into its camp to play against the Americans after Shea Theodore’s upper-body within the opener and Makar’s absence left them with just five available blueliners from the unique 23-man roster.
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