Canada defeats Finland—heads to rematch with Team USA in Boston

Canada has secured a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off final, setting up a highly anticipated matchup against the United States on Thursday.

Oilers star Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon provided an early lead, scoring 46 seconds apart in the first period to help Canada defeat Finland 5-3 on Monday afternoon. Brayden Point added another goal in the opening frame, while MacKinnon netted his second goal of the game five minutes into the second period.

Canadian Captain Sidney Crosby sealed the victory with an empty-net goal after Finland mounted a late comeback attempt. Goaltender Jordan Binnington made 23 saves in the win.

McDavid and Crosby each recorded an assist, contributing to two-point performances. Canadian defenseman Cale Makar returned to the lineup after missing a game due to illness, while Sam Reinhart provided three assists.

Finland responded with goals from Mikael Granlund, who scored twice, and Esa Lindell. Finnish goaltender Kevin Lankinen was pulled after allowing four goals on 13 shots, with Juuse Saros stopping 14 shots in relief.

The United States faced Sweden later on Monday in a game that had no impact on the standings after Canada’s regulation victory. The Americans had already secured their place in Thursday’s final with a 3-1 win over Canada in Montreal on Saturday, a game that featured a physical start with three fights in the opening nine seconds.

The 4 Nations Face-Off marks the return of NHL players to top-tier international competition, serving as a key event ahead of next year’s Winter Olympics. The NHL had participated in five consecutive Olympics from 1998 to 2014 but opted out in 2018 due to financial concerns. The league also withdrew from the 2022 Games due to COVID-19.

Before Monday’s game, American fans at TD Garden booed the Canadian national anthem, a reaction to the boos directed at "The Star-Spangled Banner" earlier in the tournament at Montreal’s Bell Centre.