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The United States and Sweden square off in the round-robin finale of the 4 Nations Face-Off in Boston.
Team USA has already clinched a spot in the championship game on Thursday. They will face Canada in a rematch of Saturday's game that began with three fights in the opening nine seconds.
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JK R: “Every game is exciting! Wasn't sure they would get out there and really play/compete. Sorry if any of them get hurt and can't play on their regular team. They have been the best games I have watched in a while. Of course I am a Preds fan, so anything would beat their games this season. LOL!”
Jason I: “OK, confession time, I was one of those ‘what's the point, it's not TRULY best on best without the Russians and Czechs’ voices you heard before this whole thing started, and although that is a valid point, man, I could not have been more wrong. We get to enjoy the best players in the world competing while being more motivated than they have ever been before.”
Kevin M: “It’s been great. Add Russia and a TBD 6th team and it could be even better.”
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Start with two proud hockey countries, add geopolitics into the equation, and then begin the game with three fights in the first nine seconds of play. What’s the result? An incredible viewership number for the United States and Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday.
ESPN said on Sunday that the United States’ 3-1 win over Canada on a rock ’em sock ’em Saturday night in Montreal averaged 4.4 million viewers. Viewership peaked with 5.2 million viewers in the 10:45 quarter hour. That’s the most-watched non-Stanley Cup Final hockey telecast since a Blue Jackets-Bruins playoff game on NBC in 2019 that averaged 4.5 million. The company said the game was up 369 percent versus the current average for NHL games on ABC. To put things in perspective: NHL postseason games last year across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS and truTV averaged 1.54 million viewers, per Sports Business Journal.
Before rushing forward to get to the next thing, which for everyone involved with the 4 Nations Face-Off meant navigating significant travel disruptions while en route to Boston in a blizzard, we must first pause for a moment of reflection.
These last few days have been, in a word, incredible. A spellbinding, spine-tingling display of what the sport can be when given the proper conditions to pop.
Here’s why it has been so successful.
The New York Rangers’ Chris Kreider, a healthy scratch for the first two games, will replace Matthew Tkachuk. The Senators’ Jake Sanderson, also out of uniform against Finland and Canada, will make his tournament debut. Sanderson will replace the Boston Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy. U.S. coach Mike Sullivan did not specify whether McAvoy’s absence is related to an injury. McAvoy did not participate in the U.S. morning skate.
The Dallas Stars’ Jake Oettinger will get the start Monday in place of the Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck.
Matthew Tkachuk will not play against Sweden tonight after being limited to three shifts in the third period against Canada on Saturday because of a lower-body injury.
According to his brother, U.S. and Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, Matthew will be ready for Thursday’s title game, to which the U.S. has already advanced. “He’ll be good to go for Thursday,” Brady Tkachuk said. “Smart for him to rest up, knowing we’re already in for Thursday. He’ll be good to go.”
Dylan Larkin sat down on a Delta regional jet Sunday for a short flight to Montreal and his latest chance to throw on that sharp, dark blue USA sweater.
A game against Finland was still four days away, but the Detroit Red Wings captain couldn’t help but look ahead to next Saturday night.
Team Canada. Bell Centre. Saturday night,” Larkin said, shaking his head. “Can’t wait. Gives ya goosebumps.”
Sitting in Seat 2A, Larkin told a story about the first time he ever played at the Bell Centre against Canada. It was New Year’s Eve 2014 in the 2015 World Junior Championship, where he shared the tournament lead with five goals.
“But we skated out before the game against Canada, and it was just a sea of red,” Larkin recalled. “It was my first time playing in a sold-out NHL building, and I’ll never forget that. It was very intimidating at the time. But I think now that I’ve got some experience playing in front of a big crowd, it won’t be as intimidating.”
Read more from The Athletic's Michael Russo on Larkin's impactful performance below.
GO FURTHER
How Dylan Larkin lifted Team USA to its first best-on-best win over Canada since 2010
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After the first two games of the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal, the tournament shifts to the United States. The remainder of the tournament takes place at TD Garden in Boston.
TD Garden is the home of the Boston Bruins in the NHL. For hockey games, the Garden has a capacity of 17,850.
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Sweden-United States is on TNT in the U.S. Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (color), Brian Boucher (ice level) and Jackie Redmond (reporter) will be on the call.
In Canada, the game is available on Sportsnet. Chris Cuthbert (play-by-play), Craig Simpson (color) and Kyle Bukauskas (reporter) will be on the call.
Puck drop of Sweden-United States is 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. In the UK, the game begins at 1 a.m, Tuesday morning.
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Greetings hockey fans! Welcome to The Athletic's live coverage of tonight's game at the 4 Nations Face-Off featuring Sweden and the United States.
This contest represents the finale of the round-robin portion of the 4 Nations Face-Off. Who comes on top between these two countries as the tournament shifts to Boston.
Follow our live updates as we build toward puck drop.
