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Canada and the United States, whose opening fighting showdown were triggered by emotional and political fireworks, will meet in the NHL Four Nations Fac-Off Tournament final on Thursday.
The Canadian followers bought the US national anthem before the 3-1 round-Round-Robin victory on Saturday in Montreal and laid the stage for an explosive start, in which three fights broke out in the first nine seconds of the game.
It is possible that a fist -flying chaos is possible, and another electrical atmosphere will be secured in Boston on Thursday when the Canadians face their bitter border competitors for the championship.
“It happened to be against the team who beat us after the fireworks that started on Saturday evening,” said Canada coach Jon Cooper. “I think it should be a pretty good TV event.”
US trainer Mike Sullivan expects another heated atmosphere.
“I would expect the next one to be just as competitive, if not,” he said. “The way the game was played with the emotional investment on both sides is simply an indication of how much these boys take care of it and what this means for them.
“It will be an incredible atmosphere. I know that our boys are excited. There is a lot of pride in the game and it will be a highly competitive fight.”
In addition to the hype, which is normally reserved for boxing for boxing, the resentment -match also drips with political intrigues on Thursday.
After the threat of US President Donald Trump, the expansion of “The Star Spangled Banner” has become the order of the day at sports facilities across Canada, tariffs for Canadian goods.
Trump also delighted the Canadians with repeated demands for the “51st state” of the United States, while routinely receiving the outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor Trudeau”.
Bill Guerin, General Manager of US team, told Fox News that the recent political tensions have already increased heated rivalry.
“I think there was a bit of political flickering. It is only the time we are in,” he said. “I think our boys used it as inspiration. If they can be done better, they are in difficulties. But I really think that players used it as inspiration.”
It would not matter if Trump visited the final.
“We would love it if President Trump were present,” said Guerin. “We have a room full of proud American players, coaches and employees.”
No US team has recorded a best crown of the best crown since the 1996 World Cup, while Canada reached all nine finals of such events and won six out of eight earlier titles. You long for another Thursday.
“You look at the last game and the intensity. Both teams got to know each other pretty quickly,” said Canada captain Sidney Crosby. “It will be a big challenge.”
– ‘Whatever it needs’ –
ESPN reported that the television reviews for the first game in the USA Canada took an average of 4.4 million viewers and reached its peak with 5.2 million. This made it the most respected hockey game outside the Stanley Cup final since 2019.
If at all, the reservoir could be even more physical, warns Cooper.
“You can support yourself in teams. And I think we didn’t make the first game against the USA very well,” said Cooper. “We have to burden them. I didn’t think we did enough.”
“Boston is treated with something special.”
Such a high intensity may not mean three fights in the first nine seconds. On the other hand, US players would not exclude any further close combat at the opening puck drop.
“We will do everything we can to win the game,” said JT Miller.
“This is huge,” said US striker Jack Eichel. “It is the biggest game in which I’ve been playing for some time. It is for everything.
“You will see desperate hockey. You will see everything you saw in the first game and more, I imagine. It will be great.”
The US defender Charlie McAvoy, Sullivan’s son-in-law, was taken to the hospital on Monday for an injury to the upper body and will miss the game, but the US stars Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Thachuk will probably play on Thursday.
“It was a great game on Saturday and we have to meet the competition,” said US striker Dylan Larkin. “You will be extremely hungry. There will be some nerves, but I hope it is a level that it was in Montreal.”
JS/RCW
