In a highly charged match at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in Montreal, Team USA defeated Team Canada 3-1, securing a spot in the championship game. The game was notable for its intense physicality, with three fights erupting within the first nine seconds of play. The opening brawl involved Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel, followed by Brady Tkachuk and Sam Bennett, and then J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko. This aggressive start set the tone for a fiercely contested match.
The atmosphere was further intensified by political tensions, as Canadian fans in Montreal’s Bell Centre loudly booed the U.S. national anthem prior to the game. This reaction has been attributed to recent political developments affecting U.S.-Canada relations.
