The 4 Nations championship ended with as much suspense and entertainment any fan could ask for <a href="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/2025/02/20/instant-reaction-connor-mcdavid-scores-to-end-thrilling-canada-usa-4-nations-finale/">as Canada downed the USA 3-2 in overtime</a>.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2109" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="328"></div>
USA: CF% &#8211; 47.85%|| SCF% &#8211; 44.69%|| HDCF% &#8211; 38.31%|| xGF% &#8211; N/A
CAN: CF% &#8211; 52.15%|| SCF% &#8211; 55.31%|| HDCF% &#8211; 61.69%|| xGF% &#8211; N/A
It’s a Team Game – Credit to the NHL for giving us international hockey back (after they took it away) because that was suspenseful, dramatic, and emotionally charged a performance as I have ever seen outside of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Canada and the USA both wanting nothing more than to simply see the other team lose – a pure rivalry. Canada got things underway when Nathan MacKinnon scored from the point after dazzling with some speed and hands to get off the wall and create a hole through traffic. The Americans started to lose grip of the game as the first went on, but were able to salvage it after Brady Tkachuk was able to whack home a centring pass. From there the flow of play at 5v5 levelled out – both teams still earning quality looks and capitalizing on them as well. Jake Sanderson found a loose puck to take a brief lead before Sam Bennett would roof it on a partial break to keep things locked up. Overtime started and the Canadians took control – pressing the Americans consistently just waiting for someone to miss an assignment. Auston Matthews then made one singular mistake and left McDavid alone for three seconds, but that was all it took for Canada to come out champions.
Corsi King – Jake Guentzel remained a great offensive threat from start to finish for this tournament. He never turned in a bad game and was extra feisty getting into shoving matches multiple times as the game went on. Auston Matthews (53.76 per cent) may have made the overtime mistake, but prior to that was a force for team USA. Jordan Binnington was forced to make consecutive top shelf saves because of Matthews late in the third period, coming close to ending things for the Americans,
Seth Jarvis (74.12 per cent) got to contribute every time he got called upon. He and Brad Marchand (73.55 per cent) were effective in the minutes they earned. Canada’s big guns allowed a few more chances than they were able to achieve.
Under Pressure &#8211; 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139769" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-SP.png" alt="" width="1020" height="1962" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-SP.png 1020w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-SP-156x300.png 156w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-SP-532x1024.png 532w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-SP-768x1477.png 768w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-SP-799x1536.png 799w" sizes="(max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px" />
Taken By Chance – One American player that opened eyes on forward was Dylan Larkin (28.89 SCF% || 51.12 HDCF%). All tournament long he was reliable and kept making the right move to maximize how dangerous and effective he could be. He and Zach Werenski (52.01 per cent || 36.40 per cent)) stood tall above most other American performances. If not for Hellebuyck’s existence than Werenski would have been the best player in the entire tournament.
Canada had a bit of an x-factor in this match they were missing in their first one. Cale Makar (70.11 per cent || 72.55 per cent) led the team with involvement in ten high danger chances at 5v5. He was consistently flying back towards the American net on the majority of his shifts. His speed was able to get the puck deep in the attacking zone with possession and allows for him to cover a lot of ice when defending. He was a force in this one.
xG Breakdown &#8211; 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139770" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-xG1.png" alt="" width="894" height="1142" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-xG1.png 894w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-xG1-235x300.png 235w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-xG1-802x1024.png 802w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-xG1-768x981.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 894px) 100vw, 894px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139771" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-xG2.png" alt="" width="691" height="788" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-xG2.png 691w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-xG2-263x300.png 263w" sizes="(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px" />
xGF% &#8211; Due to some form of data collection issue the xG percentages are missing.
I was more critical of Jaccob Slavin than most after the first match. He had allowed a few high danger chances I felt were preventable – I was in the minority. His performance tonight, however, was nothing short of spectacular. His anticipation in his own zone to get in the way of shooting and passing lanes was the only answer Mike Sullivan had to trying to contain McDavid. That and blanket him with Jack Eichel – who showed the world maybe he should be getting some more Selke consideration. Eichel’s defensive game was at a level on par with Alex Barkov and was consistent enough to call him America’s best centre of the tournament.
Mitch Marner had himself a better game than the first time he played. The coach sensed that too and had him go back to playing with McDavid – a golden decision. McDavid struggled to make things happen all night long. His passes were slightly off target, he was a step ahead of the puck more often than he should have and genuinely looked discombobulated. None of that mattered after he slipped away from Matthews in the attacking zone to roof the game winning goal for his country.
Game Flow – 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139772" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-GF.png" alt="" width="751" height="350" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-GF.png 751w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-GF-300x140.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 751px) 100vw, 751px" />
Game Score –
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
CAN-USA Ratings <a href="https://t.co/jdIBaF6Kjd">pic.twitter.com/jdIBaF6Kjd</a>
&mdash; dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/domluszczyszyn/status/1892804853279146092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Shot Heatmap – 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139773" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Can-vs-USA-G7-SH.png" alt="" width="803" height="422" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Can-vs-USA-G7-SH.png 803w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Can-vs-USA-G7-SH-300x158.png 300w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Can-vs-USA-G7-SH-768x404.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 803px) 100vw, 803px" />
In The Crease – Credit to Jordan Binnington. It may not have looked pretty, proper, or perfect but it was a championship performance anyways. He made the game more interesting for myself as there were multiple instances where Binnington’s positioning in relation to the Americans shots had my anxiety level spike to the literal maximum. Connor Hellebuyck was his usual dialed In self. MacKinnon getting his goal through traffic was the anomaly of this game – a rare hole from the best goaltender on the planet. There still may be questions around goaltending going forward, but Binnington has now earned the chance to defend his spot with the Olympics coming rapidly into focus.
The Goals &#8211; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🇨🇦 CANADA GOAL 🇨🇦
NATHAN MACKINNON OPENS THE SCORING FOR CANADA!
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> <a href="https://t.co/l6cpVXPADV">pic.twitter.com/l6cpVXPADV</a>
&mdash; Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/1892749533031125255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🇺🇸 USA GOAL 🇺🇸
BRADY TKACHUK TIES THE GAME AND FIRES UP THE BOSTON CROWD! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canada</a> <a href="https://t.co/o10vpW1Lcj">pic.twitter.com/o10vpW1Lcj</a>
&mdash; Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/1892756877961777557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🇺🇸 USA GOAL 🇺🇸
JAKE SANDERSON RIPS A REBOUND INTO THE BACK OF THE NET! 
IT&#39;S 2-1 USA
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canada</a> <a href="https://t.co/D90HLkEw0H">pic.twitter.com/D90HLkEw0H</a>
&mdash; Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/1892766071876112474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🇨🇦 CANADA GOAL 🇨🇦
MITCH MARNER MAKES AN INCREDIBLE PASS TO FIND SAM BENNETT AND HE BURIES IT!
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> <a href="https://t.co/MDCwgIglUJ">pic.twitter.com/MDCwgIglUJ</a>
&mdash; Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/1892769930124091536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🇨🇦 CANADA GOAL 🇨🇦
CONNOR MCDAVID WINS THE FOUR NATIONS FACEOFF FOR CANADA!!!
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> <a href="https://t.co/Zab3LSX1QX">pic.twitter.com/Zab3LSX1QX</a>
&mdash; Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/1892793488221102568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Flash’s 3 Stars – 
1) Cale Makar
2) Connor Hellebuyck
3) Connor McDavid
 (Stats compiled from Naturalstattrick.com // Game Score from Hockeystatcards.com // xG and Under Pressure charts from HockeyViz.com // Game Flow and Shot Heatmap from NaturalStatTrick.com)
Sponsored by bet365:
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The 4 Nations championship ended with as much suspense and entertainment any fan could ask for <a href="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/2025/02/20/instant-reaction-connor-mcdavid-scores-to-end-thrilling-canada-usa-4-nations-finale/">as Canada downed the USA 3-2 in overtime</a>.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2109" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="328"></div>
USA: CF% - 47.85%|| SCF% - 44.69%|| HDCF% - 38.31%|| xGF% - N/A

CAN: CF% - 52.15%|| SCF% - 55.31%|| HDCF% - 61.69%|| xGF% - N/A

It’s a Team Game – Credit to the NHL for giving us international hockey back (after they took it away) because that was suspenseful, dramatic, and emotionally charged a performance as I have ever seen outside of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Canada and the USA both wanting nothing more than to simply see the other team lose – a pure rivalry. Canada got things underway when Nathan MacKinnon scored from the point after dazzling with some speed and hands to get off the wall and create a hole through traffic. The Americans started to lose grip of the game as the first went on, but were able to salvage it after Brady Tkachuk was able to whack home a centring pass. From there the flow of play at 5v5 levelled out – both teams still earning quality looks and capitalizing on them as well. Jake Sanderson found a loose puck to take a brief lead before Sam Bennett would roof it on a partial break to keep things locked up. Overtime started and the Canadians took control – pressing the Americans consistently just waiting for someone to miss an assignment. Auston Matthews then made one singular mistake and left McDavid alone for three seconds, but that was all it took for Canada to come out champions.

Corsi King – Jake Guentzel remained a great offensive threat from start to finish for this tournament. He never turned in a bad game and was extra feisty getting into shoving matches multiple times as the game went on. Auston Matthews (53.76 per cent) may have made the overtime mistake, but prior to that was a force for team USA. Jordan Binnington was forced to make consecutive top shelf saves because of Matthews late in the third period, coming close to ending things for the Americans,

Seth Jarvis (74.12 per cent) got to contribute every time he got called upon. He and Brad Marchand (73.55 per cent) were effective in the minutes they earned. Canada’s big guns allowed a few more chances than they were able to achieve.

Under Pressure - 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139769" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-SP.png" alt="" width="1020" height="1962" />

Taken By Chance – One American player that opened eyes on forward was Dylan Larkin (28.89 SCF% || 51.12 HDCF%). All tournament long he was reliable and kept making the right move to maximize how dangerous and effective he could be. He and Zach Werenski (52.01 per cent || 36.40 per cent)) stood tall above most other American performances. If not for Hellebuyck’s existence than Werenski would have been the best player in the entire tournament.

Canada had a bit of an x-factor in this match they were missing in their first one. Cale Makar (70.11 per cent || 72.55 per cent) led the team with involvement in ten high danger chances at 5v5. He was consistently flying back towards the American net on the majority of his shifts. His speed was able to get the puck deep in the attacking zone with possession and allows for him to cover a lot of ice when defending. He was a force in this one.

xG Breakdown - 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139770" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-xG1.png" alt="" width="894" height="1142" /> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139771" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-xG2.png" alt="" width="691" height="788" />

xGF% - Due to some form of data collection issue the xG percentages are missing.

I was more critical of Jaccob Slavin than most after the first match. He had allowed a few high danger chances I felt were preventable – I was in the minority. His performance tonight, however, was nothing short of spectacular. His anticipation in his own zone to get in the way of shooting and passing lanes was the only answer Mike Sullivan had to trying to contain McDavid. That and blanket him with Jack Eichel – who showed the world maybe he should be getting some more Selke consideration. Eichel’s defensive game was at a level on par with Alex Barkov and was consistent enough to call him America’s best centre of the tournament.

Mitch Marner had himself a better game than the first time he played. The coach sensed that too and had him go back to playing with McDavid – a golden decision. McDavid struggled to make things happen all night long. His passes were slightly off target, he was a step ahead of the puck more often than he should have and genuinely looked discombobulated. None of that mattered after he slipped away from Matthews in the attacking zone to roof the game winning goal for his country.

Game Flow – 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139772" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/CAN-vs-USA-G7-GF.png" alt="" width="751" height="350" />

Game Score –

[embed]https://twitter.com/domluszczyszyn/status/1892804853279146092?s=61&amp;t=uycY8rVP51b0IDICrktr4Q[/embed]

Shot Heatmap – 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139773" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Can-vs-USA-G7-SH.png" alt="" width="803" height="422" />

In The Crease – Credit to Jordan Binnington. It may not have looked pretty, proper, or perfect but it was a championship performance anyways. He made the game more interesting for myself as there were multiple instances where Binnington’s positioning in relation to the Americans shots had my anxiety level spike to the literal maximum. Connor Hellebuyck was his usual dialed In self. MacKinnon getting his goal through traffic was the anomaly of this game – a rare hole from the best goaltender on the planet. There still may be questions around goaltending going forward, but Binnington has now earned the chance to defend his spot with the Olympics coming rapidly into focus.

The Goals - 

[embed]https://twitter.com/dailyfaceoff/status/1892749533031125255?s=61&amp;t=uycY8rVP51b0IDICrktr4Q[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/dailyfaceoff/status/1892756877961777557?s=61&amp;t=uycY8rVP51b0IDICrktr4Q[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/dailyfaceoff/status/1892766071876112474?s=61&amp;t=uycY8rVP51b0IDICrktr4Q[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/dailyfaceoff/status/1892769930124091536?s=61&amp;t=uycY8rVP51b0IDICrktr4Q[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/dailyfaceoff/status/1892793488221102568?s=61&amp;t=uycY8rVP51b0IDICrktr4Q[/embed]

Flash’s 3 Stars – 

1) Cale Makar

2) Connor Hellebuyck

3) Connor McDavid

 (Stats compiled from Naturalstattrick.com // Game Score from Hockeystatcards.com // xG and Under Pressure charts from HockeyViz.com // Game Flow and Shot Heatmap from NaturalStatTrick.com)

Sponsored by bet365:
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4 Nations Beyond the Boxscore: Canada remains the kings of hockey after overtime victory against the USA

Calgary Flames goaltender Daniel Vladar (80) and goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) celebrate after a shootout victory over the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Saddledome

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