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The last time a game felt this important across Canada? The gold medal game of the 2010 Olympics, when Team Canada beat Team USA.
That time it was Canada’s pride as hockey nation on the line. This time it’s Canada’s pride as a nation period.
The game is all over social media tonight, and here is a running count of some of the most interesting comments:
ESPN reporter Kristen Shilton @kristen_shilton
Truly hard to even capture the energy/excitement in montreal for this CAD-USA game. absolutely immaculate.
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Toronto hockey commentator David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
Georges St-Pierre, Michelle Kwan, Carey Price and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau among those in attendance for the game tonight. Got a feeling fans here in Montreal are gonna lose it for GSP!
Hockey Canada @HockeyCanada
Cale Makar will not play tonight, but remains eligible for the tournament. Brad Marchand will serve as an alternate captain tonight.
Hall of Fame d-man Chris Pronger @chrispronger
What an incredible opportunity for Thomas Harley and a difficult one at that. Youth will serve him well! Hope Makar being out is just a precaution…Here we go!! These games are where legends are born! Thomas Harley with an opportunity unlike many we have seen before.
Cult of Hockey contributor Ira Cooper @coopsie39
Canada had trouble transitioning the puck without Theodore – now with Makar out it becomes something to watch for sure. Harley is a nice d-man but I’m certain he was not the team’s 1st, 2nd or 3rd call – players are gone south.
Stats analyst Meghan Chayka @MeghanChayka
You put a country on the jersey. All of sudden it’s Game 7 Stanley cup finals vibes.
Former NHLer Scottie Upshall @ScottieUpshall
How boring will it be watching NHL games after this week?
Canadians boo USA national anthem from beginning to end. pic.twitter.com/C8SQaBWWVv
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Chris Pronger @chrispronger
3 seconds 2 fights. And now the nerves are out and back to the regularly scheduled hockey game #4Nations
TSN Hockey @TSNHockey
“I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out.”
– Rodney Dangerfield
So much hate.
Never seen anything like this before.
Three fights in first nine seconds, Canada vs USA! pic.twitter.com/FxjQdMjV1Y
US hockey podcaster Pete Blackburn @PeteBlackburn
I’m not kidding I think these guys were legitimately trying to kill one another
Spittin’ Chiclets podcaster Ryan Whitney @ryanwhitney6
I wonder if they players will even care during four nations!?
Boston hockey commentator Joe Haggerty @HackswithHaggs
Hell yes!
Edmonton hockey writer Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic
Count on the Tkachuks to turn this game into a sideshow. This is completely embarrassing.
The Hockey News @TheHockeyNews
Still can’t believe that just happened
Oilers fan K-JAM @KevinJamieson86
I honestly think this start bodes MUCH better for Canada than the US. Canada showing a spine early.
The dead-eye of Doughty.
The majesty of McDavid. pic.twitter.com/lvktWDH1ub
Terry Jones @byterryjones
Not a knockout punch but that defining Connor McDavid gorgeous goal makes this the celebration of hockey it is supposed to be.
US podcaster Pete Blackburn @PeteBlackburn
McAvoy got torched by McDavid and immediately made it his personal mission to kill him before first intermission
Targeting our best player pic.twitter.com/I6K6abP0El
Oilers fan Allyson Wonderland @girlgoroth
I swear to god, I will personally fight every American player going for McDavid rn 😤
Hockey Night in Canada commentator Craig Simpson
This is one Jordan Binnington has got to have… Binnington didn’t get set, get into the butterfly quickly enough.
St. Louis hockey writer Andy Strickland @andystrickland
Give me seven games of this
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun
Team Canada went the nuclear option, MacKinnon-McDavid-Crosby, for the last 23 seconds with an offensive zone faceoff. Curious to see how often Cooper will want to sneak that out there (ie 66-99 in ’87 Canada Cup)
Vancouver hockey writer Jason Brough @SadClubCommish
Maybe the most incredible start to a hockey game I’ve ever seen.
Hockey Night in Canada’s Kevin Bieksa
That was the greatest start to a hockey game ever. This arena was absolutely shaking… I spilled Kelly’s (Hrudey) coffee all over him when this was happening. I apologize.
Team Canada player Brandon Hagel, on his fight with Matthew Tkachuk
He asked. And I’m not backing down from him.
Team Canada’s Brandon Hagel on his epic opening fight with Matthew Tkachuk.
“He asked. And I’m not backing down from him.” pic.twitter.com/epKvEFmtwO
US football icon JJ Watt @JJWatt
4 Nations is the best idea hockey has had in a long time.
Only thing missing is Doc Emrick on the call.
NHL.com hockey writer Dan Rosen @drosennhl
Dylan Larkin spin-o-rama in front, hits the left post. Great pass from Jaccob Slavin. Great move by Larkin. Still 1-1.
The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler
Binnington is swimming. Zero calm or control, constantly losing his net.
AP hockey writer Stephen Whyno @SWhyno
Jordan Binnington has been absolutely terrific since allowing the US goal earlier.
Boston hockey commentator Kevin Paul Dupont @GlobeKPD
Stay strong, Canada.
Stay separate.
Stay every bit of you.
Signed,
Proud Yank, and proud grandson of Albertine Gagne, Baie-St-Paul, QC.
McDavid pulls@a Draisaitl, reverse hit pic.twitter.com/qw5o74AC3P
Dylan Larkin gives the United States the lead! 🦅#4Nations | @DetroitRedWings
pic.twitter.com/jDmAb6TMwb
Detroit hockey writer George Malik @georgemalik
PLAY ME SOME MOTOWN FREE BIRD.
Larkin takes the pass races up the rw side and chips it into the net behind BiNNINGTON!
David Staples, the Cult of Hockey
Sidney Crosby, the hero of Canada’s first game with that most dreaded of all hockey-o-logical phenomenon, the turnover just inside the offensive blueline, just as Canadian d-men were changing, leading to a 2-on-1, with Larkin scoring on a high slot shot.
Chris Pronger @chrispronger
The nuance behind a good defensive line change in the 2nd period during a game of this pace often gets overlooked. Case in point that 2nd goal for the USA. One defenseman needs to change at a time and the 2nd needs to stay in the middle of the ice to protect it
Hockey Night in Canada play-by-play Chris Cuthbert (start of third period)
Jon Cooper has got McDavid with Crosby and Stone
Chris Pronger @chrispronger
CANADA! Way too cute! Traffic and get pucks to the net!
Denver hockey writer Adrian Dater @adater
What happened to Canada’s offense?
Boston commentator Joe Haggerty @HackswithHaggs
I obviously appreciate the skill level that Jack Hughes brings to the table, but he really looks out over his skis for Team USA in a game like this tonight. Way too much East/West in his game and he’s getting tossed around physically
Where’s Evan Bouchard?
Canada’s puckmoving has been mediocre this game.
Binnington bails them out on this one. pic.twitter.com/yvV20iq0is
Denver hockey writer Adrian Dater @adater
Makar’s absence really affected Team Canada
NHL network writer Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
How well is Jaccob Slavin skating tonight? He just used his feet and positioning to angle Nathan MacKinnon away from a scoring chance.
Vancouver commentator Jason Brough @SadClubCommish
Americans are playing a great defensive game. Protectionist hockey.
Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson @jimmathesonnhl
Point looks like second best Canadian forward after McDavid.
Boston hockey writer Nicholas W. Goss @NickGossNBCSB
Charlie McAvoy played awesome tonight.
Toronto hockey writer Ken Campbell @Ken_Campbell27
A few thoughts on the actual game: The early fights had absolutely no bearing on anything. Team USA came as advertised. Canada’s stars are going to have to get a lot closer to the net if they want to have success in this event. Outstanding game.
The Athletic’s James Mirtle @mirtle
Very impressive shutdown performance by the U.S. in the third.
American commentator Ryan Whitney @ryanwhitney6
Time to go home Canada. Thank you for hosting the first half of this amazing tournament. We’ll see you in Boston if you guys can get by Finland. What a night in Montréal as Team USA continues their run of dominance. What a team. Play Free Bird 🇺🇸 How good did USA d men play. McAvoy hammers McJesus twice. Werenski so silky. Slavin and Faber shut everything down and had ridiculous compete level. Hanafin great stick and skating all night and Fox was solid. That was a defensive clinic.
Denver hockey writer Adrian Dater @adater
USA Hockey has become world’s best at the sport. The numbers don’t lie
Hockey Night in Canada’s Kevin Bieksa
You’re looking for chemistry for Connor (McDavid) right now… They tried a couple different guys. I think Marchand is the next guy on that list that needs to go up.
Calgary hockey writer Darren Haynes @DarrenWHaynes
Sam Bennett was second on Canada in hits (4), tied for first in shots (3), had the fight, and he packed all that into a game-low 7:41 in ice time. In Calgary, we’re very familiar with ‘Playoff’ Sam Bennett. I saw the same tonight in ‘4-Nation’ Sam Bennett. Give him a bigger role.
Former NHLer Alex Goligoski @gollygoose33
This is an absolute game charger for the future of pro hockey. Talk about growing the game… no other sport could manufacture this mid-season. This sports and these players are so special. Well done NHLPA.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Doesn’t get a lot of attention, but thought Jaccob Slavin was tremendous tonight
Canadian hockey commentator Paul Bissonnette @BizNasty2point0
Brutal loss. Lots to clean up for Canada. Couldn’t forecheck. Line changes were awful. Too slow. Too much cross ice fluff the USA wasn’t falling for. Americans played a great game.
US podcaster Pete Blackburn @PeteBlackburn
Absolutely incredible defensive game from the United States…Hanifin, Slavin McAvoy all particularly awesome tonight. Just an all-around unbelievable effort from an inexperienced group. Lot to be proud of 🇺🇸🇺🇸
Los Angeles hockey writer Dennis Bernstein @DennisTFP
“That was the most fun I’ve had in a hockey game. We didn’t know the Tkachuk boys were going to do at the start ” — Noah Hanifin
Sportsnet commentator Luke Gazdic
Matthew Tkachuk, no matter who he is playing for, you want him on your team… Right off the draw, him and his brother, getting going, getting energy and life and doing it on the road, they are on the road in a hostile building against a hostile hockey team, give to to Matthew, man, he stepped up in a major way to get this game started. This is Canada hockey…Credit to Brandon Hagel. He’s not a fighter. This isn’t a guy who makes a living in the NHL off scrapping. But he says yes. And that’s all it takes. You show up for your teammates.
NHL network hockey writer E.J. Hradek @EJHradek_NHL
Congratulations to Tom Wilson on your selection to the 2026 Team Canada Olympic Team
US sports commentator John Buccigross BucciOT.Com @Buccigross
Tom Wilson has more goals this year than McDavid, MacKinnon and both Tkachuks. He is on the best team in the East. Hard to believe he is not on Team Canada. He’s a unicorn in this era.
The Cult of Hockey’s Kurt Leavins 🇨🇦 @KurtLeavins
Terrific hockey game. The U.S. was one save better, limited Canadian attack. Rematch?
ESPN’s Ray Ferraro
Thoughts from ice level last night.
(1) Amazing intensity. (2) US physicality+ mindset obvious. Checking game A+ (3) Canada east-west play 👎 (4) Transition killed without Petro, Theodore, Makar. (5) Binnington iffy GA (6) amazing night, bloody lucky to be there
David Staples, the Cult of Hockey
I put this loss not on the players, who played their hearts out, but on those who selected this team. They left off Evan Bouchard, the best d-man in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, and gritty, effective McDavid wingman Zach Hyman. They left off one of the hottest goalies in the NHl, Logan Thompson. A few of the older players, Drew Doughty and Brad Marchand, looked out of their depth in this one. Colton Parayko and Travis Sanheim worked hard but struggled. Binnington had some good moments, but both of the first two USA goals were saveable.
Yes, this team can still win this tournament, especially with Cale Makar returning to the line-up, one would hope.
But Canada left too much talent at home.
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