US, Canadian hockey stars get into numerous fights in opening seconds of 4 Nations rivalry after anthem boos

US, Canadian hockey stars get into numerous fights in opening seconds of 4 Nations rivalry after anthem boos

US, Canadian hockey stars get into numerous fights in opening seconds of 4 Nations rivalry after anthem boos

Three fights erupted within the first nine seconds of a 4 Nations Face-Off matchup between the U.S. and Canada on Saturday.

Right at the opening puck drop, Matthew Tkachuk of Team USA and Canada’s Brandon Hagel wasted no time before dropping the gloves. Just two seconds later, Matthew’s brother, Brady, squared off against Sam Bennett, who also happens to be Matthew’s NHL teammate on the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

The intensity didn’t stop there. Following an early rush into the Canadian zone, a full-scale brawl broke out, involving nearly every player on the ice. Amid the chaos, J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko engaged in their own fight.

With the penalty boxes filling up, tensions remained high, but order was eventually restored.

Playing in Montreal, the atmosphere was already charged, and Canadian fans made their feelings known by loudly booing the "Star-Spangled Banner," despite a public-address announcement urging respect for both national anthems. Even NHL executive Bill Daly called the situation "unfortunate" and expressed hope that hostilities would ease.

This tournament marks the first best-on-best competition between the U.S. and Canada since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, which is set to return in 2028 after a 12-year hiatus.

Both teams entered the game with opening victories, though the U.S. held the advantage in the standings due to its regulation win, while Canada required overtime to defeat Sweden on Thursday.

Canada struck first when Connor McDavid found the back of the net about five and a half minutes into the game. However, Jake Guentzel responded shortly after to level the score.

In the end, the United States secured a 3-1 victory over Canada, clinching a spot in the tournament's championship game. With the win, Team USA advances to Thursday’s final in Boston, where they could potentially face Canada once again.

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