Mitch Marner scored at 6:06 of 3-on-3 time beyond regulation as Canada edged Sweden 4-3 to open the 4 Nations Face-Off match Wednesday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs winger ended a back-and-forth further interval the place each groups had loads of probabilities to safe the win when he ripped a shot upstairs on Filip Gustavsson.
Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand and Mark Stone had the opposite targets for the Canadians, who acquired 23 saves from Jordan Binnington. Sidney Crosby added three assists in NHL gamers’ return to high-level worldwide competitors.
Jonas Brodin, Adrian Kempe and Joel Eriksson Ek replied for the Swedes. Gustavsson stopped 24 pictures. Lucas Raymond chipped in two assists.
WATCH | Marner’s OT marker helps Canada edge Sweden in 4 Nations Face-Off opener:
Canada edges Sweden 4-3 with Mitch Marner’s time beyond regulation aim within the opening sport of the 4 Nations Face-Off match. Sidney Crosby data three assists.
Canada earned two factors within the standings for the extra-time victory, whereas Sweden secured one for the loss after regulation.
The US and Finland meet Thursday in these international locations’ first video games on the round-robin occasion that is serving as an appetizer forward of the NHL’s return to the Olympics in 2026.
Russia is not a part of this match due to its ongoing warfare in Ukraine, whereas reigning world champion Czechia can also be on the skin trying in as a result of a competition-compressed window.
The 4 Nations will see 4 video games on the Bell Centre earlier than the showcase shifts to Boston for 2 extra contests and the Feb. 20 remaining.
WATCH | Montreal able to play host as 4 Nations Face-Off begins:
The Bell Centre is the primary of two venues, internet hosting many of the world’s largest hockey stars as they play for his or her nation in a best-on-best match for the primary time in practically a decade.
After a deafening ovations for Crosby and Mario Lemieux — and a rousing rendition of “O Canada” forward of Wednesday’s opening faceoff — Canada struck on an influence play simply 56 seconds into the primary interval.
Connor McDavid fed Crosby down low earlier than he shortly discovered MacKinnon, a fellow Cole Harbour, N.S., product, in entrance with a slick no-look move on a deadly first-unit energy play that additionally consists of Sam Reinhart and Cale Makar.
Sweden lastly acquired its first shot on course with greater than quarter-hour gone when Gustav Forsling snapped a puck into Binnington’s glove.
The Scandivians acquired on the board at 9:33 of the second when Brodin fired a shot by the Canadian netminder’s ear.
The Swedes continued to hold the play because the interval wore on till Crosby went again to work.
WATCH | Canada, U.S. gamers targeted on hockey regardless of tarrif tensions:
The star-studded mini match is occurring at a second when tensions between Canada and the USA are excessive.
Canada’s 37-year-old captain — an harm concern forward of the match — raced into the offensive zone earlier than stopping up and discovering a hard-charging Stone for him to bury a shot five-hole on Gustavsson to once more blow the roof off the frothing rink.
Kempe minimize the deficit to 3-2 at 1:54 of the third off the frenzy on a shot that flew previous Binnington. Canada’s crease was a major speaking level coming into the 4 Nations with Binnington, Adin Hill and Sam Montembeault having all had less-than stellar campaigns for his or her NHL groups.
Eriksson Ek acquired Sweden again on stage phrases at 8:59 on a Jesper Bratt setup on the lip of Canada’s crease.
Gustavsson then made an enormous saves on Devon Toews and Makar earlier than Canada needed to kill a Josh Morrissey penalty for high-sticking to arrange the dramatic end.
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