Normally during the break of the NHL season, fans tune in for the NHL All-Stars game and activities, but this season had an interesting alternative. The Four Nations Face-Off took the place of the typical All-Star showcase, and the renewal of the games will be an interesting debate.
The games consisted of 3 periods of hard-fought hockey, literally and figuratively. In the much anticipated USA-Canada match, 3 consecutive fights occurred in the first 9 seconds of the game. This caused many more eyes to be focused on the tournament, as it displayed the player’s toughness and skill.
The only downside to the tournament is the risk of injury. Charlie McAvoy suffered a shoulder injury after being checked during USA’s win over Finland. He was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital and will miss the USA-Canada rematch. This is going to be a problem going forward. If players are being injured during the tournament, owners and general managers are not going to allow their star players to participate.
This is a loss for not only Team USA but also for the Boston Bruins. The defensemen recorded 23 points in 50 games, earning him a prime spot on Team USA for the tournament. McAvoy has proven himself as a force to be reckoned with, and now his future is uncertain.
As tensions increase between Team USA and Team Canada, they are predicted to have an all-time game tonight at 8.
“It’s a game 7 right? It’s for everything, “ Team USA forward, Jake Eichel told PuckReport looking forward to the matchup.
“We’re out there playing for a flag, not a camera,” Team Canada’s Brandon Hagel explained to ESPN.
Clearly, this matchup means something more on both sides of the ice. Canada and America have continued the unspoken rivalry for decades, and it all comes to a head tonight. The passion for the game the players have is palpable, as exemplified by Team USA’s Matt Boldy.
“It’s the dream scenario. It’s the biggest game that I think I’ve ever played in my whole life,” Boldy told Sportsnet.
If you’re interested in seeing the NHL’s most impressive stars on the same line and sharing the same ice, tune into the Four Nations Face-Off tonight at 8. We will have to wait until the next hockey season to see what the NHL will do with the tournament, and how they can protect players from getting injured. So, get excited for the game tonight, and keep believing in miracles.
