Colorado Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar look to lead Team Canada past Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off’s most anticipated challenge. The heavyweight tilt will take place on Saturday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
The Canada squad is coming off an exciting 4-3 overtime win against Team Sweden in the tourney’s opening match. Nathan MacKinnon got the scoring started by notching a power play in the first period against Sweden.
Meanwhile, the Americans routed Team Finland 6-1 after exploding for four goals in the third period. The game was much closer than the final score suggested, as Finland hung tough for 40 minutes. However, the Finns could not hold Team USA back, eventually falling by a lopsided score.
Those two contests set the stage for what should be the tournament’s most impressive matchup. Both sides have plenty of firepower, with goaltending and defense being the main difference in the game. MacKinnon and Makar will look to beat all-world goalie Connor Helleybuck.
It’s worth pointing out that Hellebuyck has had the Avalanche’s number all season. In particular, Hellebuyck has his last three games against Colorado, recording two shutouts, one on November 7, 2024, and the other on January 11, 2025.
So, MacKinnon and Makar will go up against their archnemesis, hoping to find the back of the net as Team Canada looks to take a definitive lead in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Of course, regardless of whoever wins Saturday night’s tilt, there’s a very good chance the two clubs will meet again in the final.
Lehkonen hoping to lead Finland to victory
The other Colorado Avalanche representative at the 4 Nations Face-Off is Team Finland’s Artturi Lehkonen. Lehkonen was on the unfortunate end of the 6-1 shellacking by the Americans in their first outing.
As such, Lehkonen will be looking to lead the Finnish side against Team Sweden in the other Saturday game at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Sweden and Finland will square off in a matinee, setting the table for the main even later in the evening.
For Finland, it will be crucial to come out strong as they look to get some momentum going. A loss would all but sentence Finland to last place in the tourney unless they can turn things around once the event shifts to the TD Garden in Boston.
Meanwhile, Lehkonen will be looking to build on a solid game against Team USA. Lehkonen hit the ice for over 16 minutes over 20 shifts. He had four shots on goal but was unable to beat Connor Hellebuyck. Yes, the Avalanche’s archnemesis.
Lehkonen and the Finns hope to get an early jump on the Swedes, and hopefully get back in the win column. The game should be a fun one, with Lehkonen looking to demonstrate why he’s one of the best Finnish players at the moment.