Canada Expects 'made For TV' Rematch With Americans In 4 Nations Face-Off

Canada expects 'made for TV' rematch with Americans in 4 Nations Face-Off

Feb. 18 (UPI) — Canada used a 5-3 win over Finland to climb into the 4 Nations Face-Off finale and set up a rematch with Team USA. Coach Jon Cooper said he expects a “made for TV event” with the trophy up for grabs Thursday in Boston.

“We came here for this purpose and now it’s ‘win one more game,'” Cooper told reporters after Canada beat Finland 5-3 Monday in Boston. “It just happens to be against the team that beat us after the fireworks that went off on Saturday night.

“It should be a pretty good made-for-TV event.”

Star forwards Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby registered a goal and assist apiece in Canada’s win over Finland, which clinched a rematch with the Americans. Fellow forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Reinhart logged two goals and three assists, respectively. Forward Brayden Point also scored.

Forward Mikael Granlund scored twice for Finland. Defenseman Esa Lindell also scored in the loss.

Sweden beat Team USA 2-1 in the final game of the round-robin stage of the tournament Monday in Boston.

Despite the loss, the Americans finished atop the standings in the round robin stage, with two wins and one loss. Canada, who earned a win, overtime win and loss, placed second to spark the rivalry rematch just days after a 3-1 loss to the Americans.

“That’s what we wanted,” Team USA forward Jack Eichel said Monday at TD Garden. “We know they’re going to be ready to play. I expect their best and they should expect ours as well.

“It’s going to be a great game.”

Several Team USA stars sat out during the win over Sweden, including forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews. Forward Brady Tkachuk sustained a lower-body injury in the loss, but is expected to return for the finale.

The Americans are slightly favored to beat the Canadians for the title.

“It’s a Game 7, right. It’s for everything. You are going to see desperate hockey,” Eichel said. “You are going to see everything you saw in the first game and more, I’d imagine.”