The United States defeated Canada 3-1 in a highly competitive hockey match-up at the Bell Centre in Montreal, clinching a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game. Jake Guentzel scored twice for the U.S., while Connor McDavid responded with a goal for Canada.
The intense rivalry between the two teams was evident from the opening face-off, with three fights breaking out within the first nine seconds of play. The match was marked by fast-paced action and tight-checking, with both teams giving it their all.
Despite falling behind early, the U.S. tied the game at 1-1 on Guentzel’s goal, which came after Charlie McAvoy laid a big hit on McDavid along the left-wing wall of the U.S. defensive zone. The U.S. took the lead again with Brady Tkachuk’s hit on Drew Doughty behind Canada’s net, before Larkin scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period.
Canada pushed hard in the third period but couldn’t find the back of the net, allowing Guentzel to seal the win with an empty-net goal at 18:41. The U.S. outshot Canada 31-23 and out hit them 17-14 in the first period alone.
The victory marks a significant milestone for the U.S., who will now face Sweden in their next match-up on Monday. Despite some injuries to key players, including Matthew Tkachuk, the team showed resilience and determination, leading coach Mike Sullivan to describe the game as “incredible.”
Source: https://www.nhl.com/news/united-states-canada-4-nations-face-off-game-recap-february-15