After a superb Finland/Sweden clash earlier in the day, Bell Centre played host to a emotional and eventful clash between Canada and the United States on Saturday night. The game was punctuated by three early fights before a more traditional, albeit pretty chippy and physical, game unfolded.

Canada scored first, but just couldn’t get enough rubber past Connor Hellebuyck in a 3-1 United States win.

We had three fights over a nine second span of game clock to kick this game off: Matthew Tkachuk fought Brandon Hagel, Brady Tkachuk fought Sam Bennett, and J.T. Miller fought Colton Parayko.

Connor McDavid opened the scoring just over five minutes into the game, receiving a pass from Drew Doughty and going for a skate. He cut through a couple defenders and went backhand shelf past Hellebuyck’s glove hand to make it 1-0 Canada.

A little bit later, though, the Americans responded. Jake Guentzel beat Jordan Binnington five-hole off the rush to tie it up at 1-1.

First period shots were 8-8. Via Natural Stat Trick, five-on-five scoring chances were 4-2 Canada (high-danger chances were 4-0 Canada).

The Americans grabbed the lead midway through the second period. The Canadians turned the puck over during a defensive change, leading to an odd-man rush by the Americans. On that rush, Dylan Larkin picked a spot and beat Binnington stick-side over the pad to give the USA a 2-1 lead.

Second period shots were 10-10. Five-on-five scoring chances were 10-7 Canada (high-danger chances were 6-1 Canada).

The Canadians pressed hard in the third period, but the Americans did a good job clogging up the middle of the ice and preventing secondary chances.

Canada pulled Binnington for the extra attacker late, but Guentzel scored on the empty net to give the Americans a 3-1 lead.

The USA held on for the win.

Third period shots were 8-5 Canada. Five-on-five scoring chances were 8-7 USA (high-danger chances were 4-2 USA).

Reinhart – McDavid – Marner
Crosby – MacKinnon – Stone
Marchand – Bennett – Jarvis
Hagel – Cirelli – Point

Toews – Sanheim
Morrissey – Parayko
Harley – Doughty

Binnington
(Hill)

Scratches: Montembeault, Makar (sick), Konecny

B.Tkachuk – Eichel – M.Tkachuk
Guentzel – Matthews – Hughes
Miller – Larkin – Boldy
Nelson – Trocheck – Connor

Werenski – McAvoy
Slavin – Faber
Hanifin – Fox

Hellebuyck
(Oettinger)

Scratches: Swayman, Sanderson, Kreider

Canada (1-1-0, 2 points) plays Finland on Monday.

The USA (2-0-0, 6 points) plays Sweden on Monday.