A high-stakes hockey match between the United States and Canada turned into a spectacle of chaos as three fights broke out within the first nine seconds of play. The intense 4 Nations Face-Off clash, held at the Bell Centre with a sellout crowd of 21,105, showcased the fierce rivalry between these hockey powerhouses.
A Fiery Start to the Game
The tension was palpable even before the puck dropped, with many Canadian fans in the arena loudly booing the U.S. national anthem. However, once the game began, emotions exploded on the ice. American forward Matthew Tkachuk wasted no time, immediately challenging Canada’s Brandon Hagel to a fight off the opening faceoff.
“We needed to send a message,” Tkachuk explained after the game. “The message we wanted to send is ‘It’s our time.'”
Just seconds later, Tkachuk’s younger brother, Brady, followed suit, engaging in a brawl with Canada’s Sam Bennett. The third fight erupted when J.T. Miller squared off against Colton Parayko after a cross-check, completing the trio of battles in the opening moments.
USA Takes Control After the Chaos
Despite the heated start, Team USA channeled their energy into a dominant performance, securing a 3-1 victory over their biggest rivals. Dylan Larkin scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, while Jake Guentzel added two goals, including an empty-netter to seal the win.
“That was one of the best experiences of my life — just an unbelievable hockey game,” said Larkin. “The Tkachuk brothers and Millsy, what a start, and credit to those guys for answering the bell. And the crowd, just a great night for our sport and a great night for this rivalry.”
The game was played at a blistering pace, with the U.S. proving they could match Canada’s speed, skill, and physicality in the NHL’s first international tournament featuring top players in nearly a decade.
Strategy Behind the Early Brawls
As it turns out, the early-game fights were premeditated. A group chat involving the Tkachuk brothers and J.T. Miller reportedly discussed the plan in advance. However, Matthew Tkachuk insisted the brawls were unrelated to the anthem booing. Instead, he and his teammates viewed it as a way to set the tone for the game.
“It’s just unbelievable, the atmosphere, to play on this stage in Canada,” said Jake Guentzel. “There was a lot of excitement from our team coming out for warmups and just seeing how packed it was. That was pretty special.”
Canada’s Response to the Mayhem
Canadian coach Jon Cooper described the game’s opening moments as pure “mayhem.”
“It was, I guess, 10 years of no international hockey exhaled in a minute and a half,” Cooper remarked.
Despite the rocky start, Canada put up a strong fight, with their lone goal coming in the first period. However, they struggled to break through the solid U.S. defense and goaltending in the later stages.
USA Advances to the 4 Nations Face-Off Final
With the 3-1 win, Team USA officially booked their spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off final. They will play Sweden in their final pool stage game on Monday, while Canada will face off against Finland.
This game further cemented the USA-Canada hockey rivalry as one of the most intense in sports. The physicality, skill, and emotions on display make it clear that whenever these two teams meet, fireworks are guaranteed.
