BOSTON — The excitement is building for the championship match of the 4 Nations Face-Off. Canada secured a 5-3 win against Finland on Monday at TD Garden, setting up a thrilling showdown with Team USA on Thursday.
Nathan MacKinnon shone in the game, scoring twice and joining Jake Guentzel from the USA and Mikael Granlund from Finland as the tournament’s top scorers. “We really wanted to keep playing and get a rematch with the U.S. We believe we can beat them,” he said, looking ahead to the final.
After losing to the Americans in their earlier match, Canada knew they had to perform to get another chance. The team focused on treating each game like a Game 7, bringing their best energy to the ice. They managed to take control early, but the match got tense late in the third period.
Finland fought hard and scored three goals late in the game, making it close. Granlund netted two of those in quick succession, adding pressure on Canada. But captain Sidney Crosby sealed the win for Canada with an empty-net goal to secure their victory.
“We let up a bit at the end, but credit to Finland for not giving up,” Crosby noted. “It was a tough match, and getting the lead was crucial.”
Despite some late-game jitters, the Canadian team felt more confident after this performance than after their loss to the U.S. They know they need to bring that same energy to their upcoming game against their biggest rivals.
Team Canada’s coach Jon Cooper believes this is the matchup everyone has been waiting for. The rivalry is intense, with the last game featuring chaotic moments right from the start, highlighting the fierce competition between the two teams.
“There’s no bigger rivalry in hockey than Canada vs. U.S.,” Brad Marchand said. “We’re all excited about facing them again.”
In the game against Finland, Canada took an early lead with Connor McDavid scoring first, followed closely by MacKinnon, who quickly added another. Brayden Point also contributed with a goal, giving Canada a 3-0 lead in less than seven minutes.
Finland called a timeout, hoping to regroup, but Canada was relentless. Crosby assisted MacKinnon for another goal, forcing Finland to switch goalies after their starter gave up four goals on 13 shots. Juuse Saros came in as relief and managed to stop all 14 shots he faced.
Finland’s coach, Antti Pennane, acknowledged the skill on both sides and emphasized that anything can happen in a single game. Now, all eyes are on the final showdown between Canada and the U.S. on Thursday — and it promises to be a battle for the ages.
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NHL,Sports,4 Nations Face-Off,connor mcdavid,nathan mackinnon,sidney crosby
