Canada wins 4 Nations final against U.S. 3-2 in OT

The hockey rivalry between Canada and the U.S. runs deep.

Both teams met in the 4 Nations Face-Off final in Boston.

After 60 minutes of regular play and just over eight minutes of overtime, Canada came out on top 3-2.

Read more:

• Politics and sports set to collide as Canada, U.S. meet in 4 Nations final
• American fans lightly boo `O Canada’ before 4 Nations Face-Off title game
• Paul Henderson: 4 Nations ‘is some of the best hockey that we’ve seen’

The energy in the arena was undeniable, with American fans chanting “USA” repeatedly, they remained loud throughout the game.

Team Canada had the first icebreaker of the game with a goal in the first five minutes of play from Nathan MacKinnon.

He managed to get the puck in the back of the net with heavy traffic in front.

With just over three minutes left in the first period, Team USA tied up the game with a simple dump in front of the net from Brady Tkachuk.

The second period started hot for both teams. There were countless close calls in front of the net and tensions grew with a lot of pushing and shoving.

Team USA took the lead with a goal from Jake Sanderson.

Defenceman Jaccob Slavin stopped Sidney Crosby from getting a much-needed goal to tie the game.

Luckily for the red and white, a turnover in front of the Canadians’ bench led to a momentum-changing goal from Sam Bennet. This was his first point and goal of the tournament.

The third period was all about defence, it was so good neither team scored, forcing the game into overtime.

Canada’s goalie Jordan Binnington held off the Americans long enough for Connor McDavid to secure the game-winning goal eight minutes into OT.

Saskatchewan ready for the game

Fans packed bars in Regina ahead of the match.

The scenes at Boston Pizza!

Canada wins it in OT! #4Nations pic.twitter.com/ws8Qoj3wba

— Britton Gray (@BrittonGray) February 21, 2025

The Kenaston hockey arena hosted a watching party for the big game.

Even the Green Zone got into the spirit of the game, changing its name to the Red & White Zone for the special event.

We are coming to you LIVE from Boston Pizza with a special RED & WHITE ZONE ! We are hanging out with you until 7pm and then the puck drops for the #4Nations final! #GreenZone #RedAndWhiteZone pic.twitter.com/j5TfGW5AXu

— The Red and White Zone (@GreenZoneSK) February 20, 2025

Premier Scott Moe showed his support for the red and white.

Go Go! pic.twitter.com/oWWGdFsTbR

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) February 20, 2025

Political fuel

Fuel has been added to the rivalry fire with politics joining the arena.

U.S. President Donald Trump has stoked resentment in Canada by threatening sweeping tariffs on Canadian products and repeatedly suggesting the U.S. should absorb Canada as a state.

Canadian sports fans have responded by booing the U.S. anthem at several sporting events, including the Americans’ 3-1 win over Canada on Saturday in Montreal in the round-robin portion of the competition. That game featured three fights in the first nine seconds, setting the tone for the physical rematch.

The Canadian national anthem was booed loudly ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off final against the United States.

Jeers rang around T-D Garden when Chantal Kreviazuk began O Canada despite a request by the arena’s public address announcer for respect. Kreviazuk altered the lyric from “in all of us command” to “that only us command” in O Canada as an apparent protest against U-S President Donald Trump’s repeated remarks about making Canada the 51st state.

What is the 4 Nations Face-Off?

The 4 Nations Face-Off is an international hockey tournament involving NHL players and featuring the North American rivals, Sweden and Finland.

It started on Feb. 12 with games hosted in Montréal and Boston.

The NHL 4 Nations Face-Off is happening in lieu of the 2025 NHL All-Star Game.

The four teams played each other in a round-robin format which is followed by a one-game final between the two top-placed teams, in this case, Canada and the U.S.

Both teams finished the round-robin 2-1.

The great rivals have met 20 times in best-of-the-best tournaments since the 1976 Canada Cup, with Canada holding a 14-5-1 lead between the pair.

Over those meetings, Canada has scored 71 goals and the U.S. has scored 32.

Ahead of the final, Sidney Crosby was the scoring leader with one goal and four assists.

Read more:

• Politics and sports set to collide as Canada, U.S. meet in 4 Nations final
• American fans lightly boo `O Canada’ before 4 Nations Face-Off title game
• Paul Henderson: 4 Nations ‘is some of the best hockey that we’ve seen’

— with files from The Canadian Press