It will be a rematch of the USA and Canada for the championship of the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday night. Team USA took its first loss of the tournament, 2-1 to Sweden last night while Canada held off hard-charging Finland, 5-3 to clinch their spot in the final. The Americans beat the Canadians on Saturday to advance to the final.
All of the scoring came in the first period between Team USA and Sweden. Chris Kreider scored for the U.S. 35 seconds into the game, but the Swedes answered with goals by Gustav Nyquist and Jesper Bratt, who put one in just before the first intermission.
Team Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon scored a pair of goals and Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby each had a goal and an assist, Crosby’s brilliant goal coming in the waning seconds after Finland scored three quick goals with their net emptied. The Penguins’ captain leveled Mikael Granlund at center ice, quickly got to his feet and gloved a pass from Sam Reinhart, dropped the puck to the ice and wristed it into the goal from center ice.
Like all hockey fans, Team USA coach Mike Sullivan is eager to play Canada for the championship.
Sullivan says the game on Thursday will be intense.
The Penguins’ coach is having a great time watching some fantastic hockey in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Sidney Crosby says Team Canada got off to a quick start against the Fins.
Boston Bruins bad guy Brad Marchand says it will be an incredible atmosphere when his Canadians take on the Americans in Boston Thursday night.
Team USA forward Matthew Tkachuk sat out with a lower body injury but he told the TNT broadcast crew that he will be playing Thursday night in the championship game. Sullivan also held out defenseman Charlie McAvoy and started Jake Oettinger in goal in place of Connor Hellebuyck.
