Canada Faces Must Win At 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament in Boston Against Finland Today

By NHL Public Relations

February 17, 2025

The 4 Nations Face-Off shifts to Boston for its three-game finale, with all teams still in contention entering a decisive doubleheader that begins with Canada and Finland at 1 p.m. ET (TNT, Max, truTV, Sportsnet, TVA Sports) and closes with Sweden and USA at 8 p.m. ET.

The Americans already have a spot secured in Thursday’s final as they get set to host an NHL International Tournament game

Canada and Finland 411

  • Canada and Finland have identical clinching scenarios Monday: win in regulation to advance to the final against USA, or win in overtime/shootout and hope for any result other than a regulation win by Sweden in the nightcap.
  • Finland and Canada will go head-to-head at an NHL International Tournament for the sixth time, as the Finns seek their first-ever victory in those matchups – Canada has won four of five to date, and the teams tied 2-2 at the 1991 Canada Cup.
  • This will be the second time the teams meet in a potential elimination game for either side, with the only other instance coming in their last meeting when Canada defeated Finland in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey final.
  • Canada has played for the title in all eight previous NHL International Tournaments, including two head-to-heads with USA – winning the 1991 Canada Cup and losing the 1996 World Cup of Hockey – and six championships (1976 CC, 1984 CC, 1987 CC, 1991 CC, 2004 WCH, 2016 WCH).
  • Finland is seeking its second trip to the final at an NHL International Tournament, with the 2004 appearance their only one to date.
  • In 20 major international tournaments played since the last World Cup of Hockey was awarded, Finland ranks second to only Canada for appearances in championship/gold medal games (includes Olympic Winter Games, World Championship, World Junior Championship and 4 Nations Face-Off). 
  • Kevin Lankinen (2019 WC) and Mikael Granlund (2022 WC) – the winning goaltender and OT hero from Saturday – have both dashed Canada’s hopes for a gold medal in recent years.

Source: nhl.com

Sweden and Finland Battle In 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament Today

By NHL Public Relations

February 15, 2025

Finland is facing Sweden in the latest chapter of a long-standing hockey rivalry between the countries, who share over 500 kilometers of border separated mostly by water.

The hockey rivalry dates back almost a century – Finland’s first international match is reported to be against Sweden on Jan. 29, 1928, and their first-ever appearance in the Winter Olympic Games was against Sweden in 1952 in Oslo, Norway (Sweden won 9-2).

Sweden and Finland 411

  • Sweden and Finland have met in one Olympic gold medal game, with Sweden defeating Finland 3-2 at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. Teemu Selanne (FIN) and Daniel Alfredsson (SWE), two of the legends who took part in the 4 Nations Face-Off opening ceremony, participated in that contest.
  • The two countries have also played for gold four times at the World Championship, each winning twice (Finland: 2011 & 1995; Sweden: 1998 & 1992).
  • This will mark the eighth meeting between Finland and Sweden at an NHL International Tournament, all in the round robin. Five of the previous seven contests have been decided by a margin of two or fewer goals.

Source: nhl.com