The 4 Nations Face-Off: A Unique International Hockey Tournament
In a unique twist to the NHL calendar, the league is replacing the traditional All-Star Game with the 4 Nations Face-Off, a week-long round robin tournament from February 12 to February 20. This exciting event brings together all-star teams from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States, showcasing some of the best talent in the world of hockey. The tournament will be split between the Bell Centre in Montreal and the TD Garden in Boston, providing fans with a mix of venues and a packed schedule of thrilling matches.
How to Watch the 4 Nations Face-Off
Every game of the 4 Nations Face-Off will be broadcast on major networks, making it easier than ever for hockey enthusiasts to follow the action. You can catch the games on ABC, TNT, or ESPN, depending on the specific match. For those without cable, the tournament is also available on streaming platforms such as ESPN+, Max, Hulu with Live TV, and DirecTV. This ensures that no matter where you are or how you prefer to watch, you won’t miss a moment of the intense competition.
The Teams: A Showcase of NHL Stars
The 4 Nations Face-Off features four formidable teams, each led by a head coach and captained by some of the league’s most prominent players. Here’s a closer look at the rosters:
Canada
- Head Coach: Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Captain: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)
- Alternate Captains: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)
- Defensemen: Cale Makar, Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg Jets), Colton Parayko (St. Louis Blues), Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Flyers), Shea Theodore (Vegas Golden Knights), Devon Toews (Colorado Avalanche)
- Forwards: Sam Bennett (Florida Panthers), Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay Lightning), Sidney Crosby, Brandon Hagel (Tampa Bay Lightning), Seth Jarvis (Carolina Hurricanes), Travis Konecny (Philadelphia Flyers), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), Brad Marchand (Boston Bruins), Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs), Connor McDavid, Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning), Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers), Mark Stone (Vegas Golden Knights)
- Goalies: Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues), Adin Hill (Vegas Golden Knights), Sam Montembeault (Montreal Canadiens)
Finland
- Head Coach: Antti Pennanen
- Captain: Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers)
- Alternate Captains: Sebastian Aho (Carolina Hurricanes), Mikael Granlund (Dallas Stars), Mikko Rantanen (Colorado Avalanche)
- Defensemen: Henri Jokiharju (Buffalo Sabres), Esa Lindell (Dallas Stars), Olli Maatta (Utah Mormons), Niko Mikkola (Florida Panthers), Rasmus Ristolainen (Philadelphia Flyers), Urho Vaakanainen (New York Rangers), Juuso Valimaki (Utah Mormons)
- Forwards: Sebastian Aho, Joel Armia (Montreal Canadiens), Aleksander Barkov, Mikael Granlund, Erik Haula (New Jersey Devils), Roope Hintz (Dallas Stars), Kaapo Kakko (Seattle Kraken), Patrik Laine (Montreal Canadiens), Artturi Lehkonen (Colorado Avalanche), Anton Lundell (Florida Panthers), Eetu Luostarinen (Florida Panthers), Mikko Rantanen (Carolina Hurricanes), Teuvo Teravainen (Chicago Blackhawks)
- Goalies: Kevin Lankinen (Vancouver Canucks), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo Sabres), Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators)
Sweden
- Head Coach: Sam Hallam
- Captain: Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Alternate Captains: Mattias Ekholm (Edmonton Oilers), Erik Karlsson (Anaheim Ducks), William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs)
- Defensemen: Rasmus Andersson (Calgary Flames), Jonas Brodin (Minnesota Wild), Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres), Mattias Ekholm, Gustav Forsling (Florida Panthers), Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson
- Forwards: Viktor Arvidsson (Edmonton Oilers), Jesper Bratt (New Jersey Devils), Leo Carlsson (Anaheim Ducks), Joel Eriksson Ek (Minnesota Wild), Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators), Adrian Kempe (Los Angeles Kings), Elias Lindholm (Boston Bruins), William Nylander, Gustav Nyquist (Nashville Predators), Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks), Lucas Raymond (Detroit Red Wings), Rickard Rakell (Pittsburgh Penguins), Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers)
- Goalies: Samuel Ersson (Philadelphia Flyers), Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild), Linus Ullmark (Ottawa Senators)
United States
- Head Coach: Mike Sullivan (Pittsburgh Penguins)
- Captain: Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs)
- Alternate Captains: Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins), Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers)
- Defensemen: Brock Faber (Minnesota Wild), Adam Fox (New York Rangers), Noah Hanifin (Vegas Golden Knights), Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks), Charlie McAvoy, Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes), Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)
- Forwards: Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild), Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights), Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lightning), Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils), Chris Kreider (New York Rangers), Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings), Auston Matthews, J.T. Miller (New York Rangers), Brock Nelson (New York Islanders), Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators), Matthew Tkachuk, Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers)
- Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets), Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars), Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins)
Tournament Format: Round Robin to Championship
The 4 Nations Face-Off follows a round robin format where each team plays three games, one against each of the other squads. The unique rule for the round robin games is that if a match goes to overtime, it lwil feature a 10-minute sudden death period at 3-on-3. If the game remains tied after this, it will proceed to a three-round shootout. This format ensures that every minute of play is crucial, adding an exciting layer of intensity to the games. Regulation wins earn three points, overtime or shootout wins get two points, and overtime or shootout losses are worth one point. The two teams with the highest points at the end of the round robin will face off in the championship game on February 20.
Key Dates and Matches
The tournament kicks off on Wednesday, February 12, with Canada taking on Sweden at 8 p.m. ET on TNT/Max. The following day, the United States faces Finland at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+. Saturday, February 15, sees a doubleheader with Finland vs. Sweden at 1 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+ and USA vs. Canada at 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+. Monday, February 17, brings another pair of games: Canada vs. Finland at 1 p.m. ET on TNT/Max and Sweden vs. USA at 8 p.m. ET on TNT/Max. The tournament culminates in the championship game on Thursday, February 20, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+.
Streaming and Subscription Options
For those who prefer streaming services, Max offers a free Bleacher Report sports add-on, making it a fantastic choice for hockey fans. Max not only streams games from TNT, TBS, and truTV but also provides access to a wide range of other sports programming, including NBA, WNBA, MLB, and NCAA sports. Subscriptions to Max start at $9.99 per month, giving you access to a wealth of content beyond just the 4 Nations Face-Off. ESPN+ is another excellent option, available for $6.99 per month, and it streams all ESPN and ABC broadcast games. Additionally, platforms like Hulu with Live TV, DirecTV, and Fubo offer comprehensive sports packages that include all the games in the tournament.
Embracing the International Spirit of Hockey
The 4 Nations Face-Off is not just a tournament; it’s a celebration of international hockey. With players from some of the world’s top hockey nations coming together, fans can expect to see a display of skill, teamwork, and passion that will rival any All-Star Game. The tournament’s unique format and the diverse talent on display make it a must-watch event for any hockey enthusiast. Whether you’re tuning in from North America or cheering from afar, the 4 Nations Face-Off promises to be an unforgettable week of hockey.
