The United States sealed a confident 3-1 victory over Canada in Saturday night's tilt in the 2024 4 Nation's Face-Off.
It marked the first best-on-best meeting between the rivaling hockey countries in over eight years and emotions were running high; from Canadian fans booing of the American national anthem to three fights in the first nine seconds of regulation, 21,000 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec witnessed the world's very best claw away for national pride.
Connor McDavid drew first blood for Canada by scoring at 5:31 of the first period, but the United States marched back with three unanswered goals.
With the victory, the United States solidified its place in the championship game on Thursday in Boston.
McDavid expressed his desire for redemption against the United States in a potential rematch in the championship.
"It was fast, tight-checking, competitive, emotional. It had everything you would want in a hockey game," McDavid said following the loss. "It sucks it didn't go our way, but this thing is far from over."
If Canada defeats Finland in regulation on Monday, it will earn its spot alongside the U.S. in the title game.
If Canada wins in overtime against Finland, Sweden must either lose in regulation or take their game to overtime for Canada to advance.
Any loss by Canada would eliminate them from the tournament.
"It's the greatest rivalry in hockey, and they got us tonight," Bennett said, said to NHL.com. "I mean, we're not going to look ahead to a (rematch), but obviously, we want them again."
