Mitch Marner the OT Hero as Canada Beats Sweden in Exuberant Start to 4 Nations Face-Off

The first and seemingly only ever 4 Nations Face-Off as it was announced in a press conference prior to the start of the first game between Canada and Sweden that the NHL would return to a proper World Cup of Hockey in 2028. That’s in addition to the NHL resuming participation in the Winter Olympics, which they haven’t done since Sochi in 2014. As a quick recap, here’s a brief rundown of best-on-best international champions since the NHL first started going to the Olympics:

• The “opening ceremonies” were honestly pretty electric. After introducing the starting lineups for both Sweden and Canada, they brought out a legend from each nation as well as the Captains for Team USA and Finland to help welcome the start of the tournament. Finland’s representative was Teemu Selanne, Sweden’s Daniel Alfredsson, Rangers Alum Mike Richter for Team USA and last but certainly not least, Mario Lemieux for Team Canada. 
• It’s a bit difficult to fully articulate what Mario Lemieux means to Canadians, perhaps our best equivalent would be if they brought out Mike Eruzione before kicking off an international tournament on American soil. With some of the games in Boston, I wouldn't be surprised if they do just that! Nevertheless, Lemieux led Team Canada to a number of championships; Including Gold at the 1987 Canada Cup, as well as Gold in the 2002 Olympics and 2004 World Cup. Was a well deserved moment for a class act legend like Lemieux to be welcomed to the Bell Center with a standing ovation and chants of his name.
• They tied it all together with a rendition of both Sweden and Canada’s national anthems. The Swedish anthem was done by a local Swedish Choir Group while the Canadian anthem was done by Jordan Miller of Canadian rock band The Beaches.

First Period:

• It didn’t take long for the first goal to come as an early penalty from William Nylander cost the Swede’s. An absolutely lethal top power play for Canada went to work which resulted in a tic-tac-toe passing play for Nathan MacKinnon to fire a quick shot home at the bottom of the face-off circle to Filip Gustavsson’s blocker side. Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby with the assists on the goal. Doesn’t get much more star-studded than that. 

• Sweden was getting completely dominated throughout the opening period. It took seven minutes for them to get a puck on Canada’s net which wasn’t even a shot on goal as they just threw it in Jordan Binnington’s direction for him to glove down and play with ease. 
• With just under seven minutes to go in the first, a neutral zone turnover from Sweden resulted in an odd-man rush the other way. Brayden Point drew the defender in and fed a quick pass to his winger in Brad Marchand who had nothing but net to shoot at, making it a 2-0 game. Shots on goal at this point were 7-0 in Canada’s favor. 

• The neutral zone really seemed to be a big issue for Sweden early on. That might be a given considering their lack of offense but it seemed every attempt to carry the puck through was answered with a swarm of red jerseys looking to shut it down immediately. Even just trying to get to center ice to dump the puck proved to be a challenge with how aggressively Team Canada was defending. 
• There weren’t many positives for Sweden but I have to give credit to Rasmus Dahlin for his encounter with Connor McDavid late in the period. There was a lot of talk about how this was going to be a glorified All-Star Game and that the players wouldn’t buy in but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Best example of that was in the midst of a puck battle in the corner, Dahlin shoving McDavid to the ice after taking one from the best player in the world. 

2nd Period:

• Now the one downside to a tournament like this is injury concern and Vegas fans got a brutal reminder of that early in the second period. Shea Theodore took a hit along the boards from Adrian Kempe that left him nursing his arm after bracing for the contact a bit awkwardly. Theodore would leave the game for Canada’s dressing room and according to Jackie Redmond on the broadcast, got x-rays during the second period. He would be ruled out for the rest of the game during the second intermission.

• Sweden’s first best chance of the night came on a strong break from Detroit’s Lucas Raymond who fired a backhander off the stick of Binnington. To reiterate the intensity levels these players are playing this tournament with, that was the second play of the game where a defender on Team Canada ended up literally crashing into the net on the backcheck. Hard enough that the official had to fix the camera inside the net after the following shift. 
• Interestingly enough, Canada’s third line was one that stood out early in this tournament as Brayden Point continued to drive his line with Marchand and Seth Jarvis. However, Canada would be much less busy offensively in the middle period.
• As the game progressed and reached its midway point, Sweden was beginning to generate some offense and even spent a couple of lengthy shifts in Canada's end of the ice. With ten and a half to go in the period, some good puck movement from Lucas Raymond’s line created an opportunity for Jonas Brodin to let a shot go through some traffic that found the back of the net, bringing the Swede’s within one. 

• That goal really brought some life to this game as Sweden was beginning to clean up their game, making complete passes and driving more meaningful and consistent offense. On top of that, they weren’t compromising on defense as Dahlin pretty much saved a goal as the puck was bouncing through the blue paint with close to seven minutes left in the period. 

• After several minutes of non-stop, back-and-forth action mainly dominated now by Sweden, Sidney Crosby led the rush the other way. A strong effort from Sid demonstrated the kind of poise and protection only a player of his caliber can execute so calmly. Seeing him play like this, at this stage of his career goes to show just how special of a player he is. Mark Stone would get credit for the goal but it was a perfect example of “good goal, better pass”. 3-1 Canada.

3rd Period:

• Sweden came out strong and started the third period with a much needed answer. A slightly sloppy, albeit successful breakout through the neutral zone led by Erik Karlsson, fed the puck ahead for Adrain Kempe who was able to enter the zone with great speed. A quick wrist shot was enough to beat Binnington as the Kings' winger was able to bring Sweden back within one, 3-2.

• Connor McDavid continued to do Connor McDavid things as he showcased his ability to flip the switch and potentially turn a game around at a moments notice. After carrying the puck through the neutral zone, he skated through everyone and nearly extended Canada's lead once again on a wrap around attempt, flying right by his teammate in Mattias Ekholm on the way there.
• With eleven minutes to go in the third, an offense zone face-off win for Joel Eriksson-Ek created a great chance for Lucas Raymond to pick up the puck and go for a quick skate. This set up a great passing lane for Raymond to find Jesper Bratt who sent it across the slot to find Eriksson-Ek right at the door step, tied hockey game, 3-3.

• Just a few minutes later, Filip Gustavsson had the save of the game as Devon Toews had a golden opportunity to regain the lead at the end of another pretty passing play involving McDavid.

• With seven minutes to go, Team Canada was called for their first penalty of the evening as Josh Morrissey caught Eriksson-Ek up high with the stick. Some good possession for Sweden's top power play unit which featured Mika Zibanejad in his usual spot on the Rangers power play but they wouldn't convert on the advantage.
• It would be an exciting finish to the sixty minutes effort as Team Sweden would hold strong and force Canada to overtime, meaning both team would earn a point towards round robin play.

Overtime:

• Ten minutes of 3-on-3 hockey with some of the best players in the world, doesn't get much better than that. Sweden won the first face-off and played the possession game through the first 75 seconds of play. A bouncing puck off a toss to the net from Raymond sent MacKinnon the other way but Gustavsson was up to the challenge.
• Sweden continued to maintain possession and a perfect pass from Rickard Rakell put the game on Mika Zibanejad's stick. His own timer was taken away by a great save by Jordan Binnington. Gustafsson answered that with another big save on a drive to the net from MacKinnon.
• The rest of that overtime would be the epitome of why players and fans alike have been begging for international best-on-best to return. Just back-and-forth, incredible action with a number of chances that could have won the game for either side.

• Mitch Marner would become the hero for Team Canada. Yet another assist for Crosby as he sent it back to Marner who took the puck right to the net and may have used a defender as a screen to fire a shot past Gustavsson. 4-3 OT win for Team Canada.

A dramatic finish in what became an outstanding opening game to the 4-Nations Face-off. As is tradition in international play, they announced the three stars of the game with the players still on the ice before naming an official player of the game. With three primary assists on the night, the first player of the game in this tournament would be Sidney Crosby.

The tournament continues tomorrow night as Team USA will take on Team Finland.