It’s happening now.
“I think it’s going to be the biggest game that I’ve ever played in my career,” said USA forward Brady Tkachuk. “I’m really looking forward to that. There’s a big buildup to it. USA vs. Canada is bigger than just the guys on the ice.
There are so many people, past, present, and in the future, that it affects. We’ve been talking about this game especially. It’s going to be a long couple of days [waiting] until it happens, but it’ll be exciting.”
Canada and the USA will both come into Saturday night with one tournament win each. The U.S. dominated Finland 6-1 on Thursday, and Canada defeated a tough Swedish team 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday.
However, these games will not compare to the big game ahead. There is a deep history between the two countries, which has already started to play a role in the 4 Nations discussion.
The most unforgettable moment – at least for most of the players now – came during the 2010 Olympics. Canada and the U.S. met in the gold medal game, and Canada let a 2-1 lead slip away with less than a minute left to play. In overtime, Sidney Crosby, the captain of Canada’s 4 Nations team, scored the winning goal to beat the U.S. and secure Canada’s gold medal.
Canadian forward Connor McDavid says that’s his favorite memory between the two nations. He saw it happen back then as a junior hockey player. Now, for the first time at this level, he will be expected to help lead Canada to victory.
“It’s what you dream of,” McDavid said. “It’s big; it’s exciting. It’s playing the Americans in Montreal. That’s a big game.”
Defenseman Drew Doughty, who was part of Canada’s 2010 and 2014 Olympic gold medal teams, says his passion for this rivalry has only grown stronger with time.
“The wait has just made the rivalry stronger. It’s made me hungrier. And I know the Americans are feeling the same way about playing us. It’s going to be a hard-fought game. I suggest everyone watches that one,” Doughty said.
“When you play the Americans, you want to beat them so bad,” Doughty added. “And I still have this feeling at 35 years old, how badly I want to beat the Americans. They’re a really good hockey team… It’s going to be a tough battle. But this is probably the most exciting matchup of the tournament.”
Both teams will face off against each other on Saturday
The historic USA-Canada hockey rivalry will be renewed when the two countries face off at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday night.
This isn’t just an ordinary game for the players who have waited their whole careers to compete against the best from their nation’s biggest rival.
“This one’s a big one, the biggest of my career,” said USA forward Dylan Larkin. “Just watching [international games] as a kid with my family, it’s like a holiday, it’s like the Super Bowl for us. To be able to be a part of it, on a Saturday night in Montreal, it’s perfect. It’s just great.”
After the 2014 Sochi Games and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, opportunities for NHL players to take part in tournaments like the Olympics ended. Many of the league’s top stars were left wondering if they would ever have the chance to compete in such events again.
The World Junior Championships have given fans a taste of top-level hockey since the last World Cup. However, the men’s rivalry between Canada and the USA was still bubbling beneath the surface, waiting to explode again with the new generation of talent.
“The wait has just amplified [the rivalry],” Doughty said. “It has made you more hungry. And I know that the Americans are feeling the same way about playing us. It’s going to be a hard-fought game. I suggest everyone watches that one.”
“There’s no bigger rivalry than Canada-USA in hockey,” Canada’s Brad Marchand added. “They’re the games that everybody dreams about playing growing up. They’re memories that will last a lifetime. We’re all really looking forward to it. Can’t come quick enough.”
Canada will have a clear advantage playing at home, something the U.S. expected for every game during this tournament.
Crosby stayed neutral
However, some were surprised when fans at Bell Centre booed the United States anthem before Thursday’s game. This has become more common since President Donald Trump imposed significant tariffs on Canadian imports.
“I’m not going to get into that,” Crosby said. “We respect the anthems; I’ll leave it at that.” “I just kind of stay out of it,” Doughty said. “I know what’s going on, and I understand the Canadians’ frustration, but I think we should respect the anthems. I don’t think anyone should be booing.”
Some fans might reserve their reactions for what happens on the ice. Coaches, like the players, expect the best performance from their teams for what is seen as a major tournament event. No amount of practice or preparation can fully prepare players for the emotional night ahead.
“There’s a lot of pride,” USA coach Mike Sullivan said. “There’s a lot of familiarity on both sides. These guys play with and against each other in the NHL all the time. An event like this where it’s best-on-best, I think it brings out the competitive spirit of both sides.
The biggest difference is when you have the privilege to play in an event like this and represent your country, it has become something that’s bigger than any individual. There’s a responsibility to bring your best when you have the privilege to participate in these types of events.
“I would envision it being a real competitive hockey game.”
That might be an understatement.
“Saturday night in Canada, against Canada — I don’t think there’s much better than this for a hockey player of this level,” Jake Guentzel said. “The crowd’s going to be intense, it’s going to be hostile, it’s going to be all of the above, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
