BOSTON — Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals, and Connor McDavid contributed with a goal and an assist in an exciting matchup. Sidney Crosby sealed the game with an empty-netter from center ice, even after Finland made a strong comeback attempt, cutting a four-goal lead to just one in the last minutes.
Canada’s top players showcased their skills in the 4 Nations Face-Off, leading Canada to a 5-3 victory over Finland. This win sets them up for a thrilling rematch against the United States in the tournament final.
“Big plays from big-time players make all the difference,” Crosby remarked after the game. “These guys thrive in high-pressure situations, and they delivered again tonight.”
The upcoming game against the United States is loaded with excitement, especially after last week’s round-robin match in Montreal, which featured intense physicality and ended in a 3-1 win for the Americans. Brad Marchand, the Boston Bruins captain, is ready for the challenge at TD Garden, a venue familiar to him.
“There’s nothing bigger than the Canada-U.S. rivalry,” Marchand said. “This is the matchup everyone wanted. It’s going to be intense, and we all can’t wait.”
For Canada, Jordan Binnington was solid in goal, stopping 23 shots. With Brayden Point also finding the net and Sam Reinhart assisting on three goals, Canada built a quick 4-0 lead within the first 25 minutes.
This tournament marks the NHL’s return to international play, absent from the 2018 and 2022 Olympics. The previous encounter between the U.S. and Canada brought its own share of drama, both on and off the ice, amidst the backdrop of tense political relations.
While the U.S. lost to Sweden 2-1 in a subsequent game, they had already secured the top spot in their pool, winning both previous matches. After the fiery action in Montreal, Monday’s game began with a somewhat subdued atmosphere, but the game quickly heated up.
Finland wasn’t ready to give up, though. Esa Lindell scored late in the game, followed by Mikael Granlund’s two goals when Finland pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Crosby’s empty-net goal finally put the game to rest.
“We made a push at the end, but it wasn’t enough,” said Finnish forward Aleksander Barkov. “It’s tough to come back from a 4-0 deficit against such a strong team.”
The scoring started quickly for Canada, with McDavid netting the first goal just four minutes in. MacKinnon followed shortly after, and Canada quickly took control. The Finns used their timeout early to regroup but struggled to catch up.
Point and MacKinnon helped Canada pull ahead to 4-0 before Finland made a goalie change. Binnington was impressive, stopping the first 19 Finnish shots before Lindell scored. Despite the late goal flurry from Finland, Canada held on for the win.
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