NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Players’ Association Executive Director Marty Walsh announced the competition in Toronto prior to the 2024 NHL Skills competition at Scotiabank Arena, the host venue for the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend.
The in-season 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off will consist of a total of 7-games played during a 9-day period from February 12-20, along with two practice days, February 10-11, and will be held in two yet-to-be named North American cities, one in Canada and one in the United States.
411 On 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament
Each team at the 4 Nations Face-Off will be comprised of 23 NHL players (20 skaters, three goalies) selected by each National Association: Hockey Canada, Finnish Ice Hockey Association, Swedish Ice Hockey Association and USA Hockey
Players must be under an NHL contract for the 2024-25 season and on an NHL roster as of Dec. 2, 2024.
All roster announcement dates will be made by the NHL and NHLPA, with each of the participating National Associations selecting its initial six players this summer, prior to selecting its complete roster later in the year
All games in the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off will be played in accordance with NHL rules on NHL-sized rinks.
Each team will play three tournament games in a traditional round-robin format, with teams earning three points for a win in regulation, two points for a win in overtime or a shootout, one point for a loss in overtime or a shootout, and no points for a loss in regulation
The two teams with the best record will advance to a one-game final. The overtime format for round-robin games will be 3-on-3 sudden death for a 10-minute period, followed by a three-round shootout.
The overtime format for the one-game final will be full strength of sudden death through successive 20-minute periods until one team scores
“We view this event as a building block to a larger World Cup, an important tournament to the players,” Walsh said.
“These guys on this stage, every one of them either talked to me or Ron [Hainsey, NHLPA assistant executive director], personally saying, ‘We want to get international hockey back in the NHL,’ and with this series, we have an amazing opportunity.”
NHL Players’ Association Executive Director Marty Walsh
The NHL will not hold an All-Star Game next season.
Carolina Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 14-14 (.500) overall, 5-10 (.333) on the road Leading 2-1 in best-of-seven: 6-4 (.600) overall, 5-3 (.625) when starting at home Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 8-7 (.533) overall, 6-3 (.667) when starting at home Leading 3-1 in best-of-seven: 4-0 (1.000) overall, 3-0 (1.000) when starting at home
NY Islanders Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 29-20 (.592) overall, 18-15 (.545) at home Trailing 2-1 in best-of-seven: 6-14 (.300) overall, 6-11 (.353) when starting on road Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 7-7 (.500) overall, 6-4 (.600) when starting on road Trailing 3-1 in best-of-seven: 2-13 (.133) overall, 2-12 (.143) when starting on road
Pre-game * This is the 14th time New York has faced a 2-0 series deficit in a best-of-seven (and seventh time they’ve won Game 3 to avoid a 3-0 hole). Of the 13 previous times the Islanders trailed 2-0, they tied the series at two games apiece three times: 1976 Quarterfinals (4-2 W vs. BUF), 1984 Conference Finals (4-2 W vs. MTL) and 2002 Conference Quarterfinals (4-3 L vs. TOR).
* The Islanders have won each of their past five home games dating to March 27 (4-0-0 in regular season, 1-0 in playoffs). Their longest stretch of wins at UBS Arena – where they began play last season) is six games – from March 10-24, 2022.
* Sebastian Aho (19-29—48 in 51 GP), who opened the series scoring with a goal in Game 1, enters Sunday tied with Eric Staal (19 in 43 GP) for the most postseason goals in Hurricanes/Whalers history. Aho currently tops the franchise’s leaderboards for the most career playoff assists and points.
* Kyle Palmieri can become the sixth different player in Islanders history to record multiple points in three straight playoff games. He can join Bryan Trottier (4x; best: 5 GP in 1981), Bob Bourne (3 GP in 1983), Wayne Merrick (3 GP in 1981), Denis Potvin (3 GP in 1981) and Mike Bossy (3 GP in 1981).
Boston Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 58-50 (.537) overall, 33-30 (.524) on the road Leading 2-1 in best-of-seven: 24-11 (.686) overall, 18-7 (.720) when starting at home Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 18-19 (.486) overall, 15-9 (.625) when starting at home Leading 3-1 in best-of-seven: 21-2 (.913) overall, 15-2 (.882) when starting at home
Florida Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 3-8 (.273) overall, 1-3 (.250) at home Trailing 2-1 in best-of-seven: 2-3 (.400) overall, 1-0 (1.000) when starting on road Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 3-2 (.600) overall, 2-0 (1.000) when starting on road Trailing 3-1 in best-of-seven: 0-2 (.133) overall, 0-0 when starting on road
Pre-game * Tyler Bertuzzi (1-3—4 in 3 GP) has found the scoresheet in each of his first three career playoff games. The last Bruins player to achieve the feat was teammate David Pastrnak (3 GP in 2017). Only four players in franchise history have a longer run: Joe Juneau (4 GP in 1992), Craig Janney (4 GP in 1988), Ken Smith (4 GP in 1945) and Bill Cowley (4 GP 1936 to 1937).
* When he takes to the ice, Aleksander Barkov will become the sixth player in Panthers history to skate in at least 30 postseason games – he will join Ed Jovanovski (34 GP), Robert Svehla (31 GP), Rob Niedermayer (31 GP), Scott Mellanby (31 GP) and Paul Laus (30 GP).
Dallas Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 33-25 (.569) overall, 13-11 (.542) on the road Trailing 2-1 in best-of-seven: 8-17 (.320) overall, 4-5 (.444) when starting at home Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 14-12 (.538) overall, 9-3 (.750) when starting at home Trailing 3-1 in best-of-seven: 0-15 (.000) overall, 0-4 (.000) when starting at home
Minnesota Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 4-11 (.267) overall, 3-8 (.273) at home Leading 2-1 in best-of-seven: 1-2 (.333) overall, 1-0 (1.000) when starting on road Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 2-3 (.400) overall, 2-1 (.667) when starting on road Leading 3-1 in best-of-seven: 0-0 overall, 0-0 when starting on road
Pre-game * The Wild will look to take a 3-1 series lead for the first time in franchise history. They have had the opportunity to do so three times after leading 2-1: 2008 Conference Quarterfinals (5-1 L in Game 4 at COL), 2015 First Round (6-1 L in Game 4 vs. STL) and 2022 First Round (5-2 L in Game 4 at STL).
* Ryan Hartman factored on three of the Wild’s five goals during Game 3 to give Minnesota a 2-1 series lead. No Wild skater has ever recorded consecutive three-point games during the playoffs.
* Roope Hintz (4-1—5 in 3 GP) can become the third player in Stars/North Stars history to score five goals through his first four games in a postseason. The only two to do so are Steve Payne (9 in 1981 w/ MNS) and Mike Modano (5 in 1994 w/ DAL).
Edmonton Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 25-23 (.521) overall, 13-8 (.619) on the road Trailing 2-1 in best-of-seven: 4-8 (.333) overall, 2-2 (.500) when starting at home Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 8-4 (.667) overall, 4-1 (.800) when starting at home Trailing 3-1 in best-of-seven: 2-6 (.250) overall, 1-1 (.500) when starting at home
Los Angeles Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 13-28 (.317) overall, 11-22 (.333) at home Leading 2-1 in best-of-seven: 6-3 (.667) overall, 5-2 (.714) when starting on road Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 9-5 (.643) overall, 7-3 (.700) when starting on road Leading 3-1 in best-of-seven: 6-0 (1.000) overall, 5-0 (1.000) when starting on road
Pre-game * The Kings have claimed each of their first two victories of a postseason via comeback for the fifth time in franchise history after also doing so in 2010 (CQF vs. VAN), 1992 (DSF vs. EDM), 1982 (DSF vs. EDM) and 1969 (QF vs. Oakland Seals). The club has never claimed each of its first three wins of a playoff year in come-from-behind fashion – the last NHL team to do so was Chicago in the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers against Edmonton (Games 1, 3 and 4).
* The only playoff years in which the Kings have earned more than two comeback wins overall are 2014 (8), 1993 (7), 2012 (5), 1991 (4), 2001 (3), 1982 (3) and 1976 (3).
* Evander Kane (14-5—19 in 18 GP) can become the fifth Oilers player to reach 20 career playoff points with the club before his 20th game. He can join Wayne Gretzky (18-25—43), Jari Kurri (8-17—25), Glenn Anderson (7-16—23) and Leon Draisaitl (9-13—22).
Source: NHLStats Resources NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – April 23, 2023
