4 Nations Face-Off final: Hockey history favors Canada in championship matchups vs. USA
The USA and Canada will play for the championship of the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday night in Boston.
The Americans won 3-1 when the teams met in the round robin, but Canada has the historical edge against the United States in championship games of best-on-best tournaments. A look at how the USA has fared in championship matchups against Canada:
The Americans tied the game on a Zach Parise goal with 25 seconds left in regulation. Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby then scored the golden goal for Canada at 7:40 of overtime. That started an international run for Canada. The country won the 2014 Olympics (beating the USA in the semifinals) and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey (Crosby was MVP).
The United States had the home crowd in Utah and the "Miracle on Ice" coach in Herb Brooks. But Canada got big games from future Hall of Famers. Jarome Iginla and Joe Sakic each scored twice and Paul Kariya also scored as Canada overcame 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to win Olympic gold for the first time since 1952. Martin Brodeur made 31 saves.
This, along with the 1980 Olympics, is one of USA Hockey's bigger moments. Canada won the opener of the best-of-three final in Philadelphia, then the Americans needed to win twice in Montreal for the title. They had two 5-2 victories and overcame two one-goal deficits. After Adam Foote put Canada ahead 2-1, the USA scored four times in the final four minutes to stun Canada in the final game. Keith Tkachuk, father of U.S. 4 Nations Face-Off players Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, scored five goals in that tournament.
Canada swept the final with 4-1 and 4-2 victories. Canada's Steve Larmer had two goals (one short-handed) and an assist in the second game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA vs Canada: History favors Canadians in 4 Nations Face-Off final
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