Canada’s victory over the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship did not go unchallenged. Shortly after the final whistle, NHL fans took to social media to voice their frustrations, questioning whether the game had been officiated fairly.

The 4 Nations Face-Off Championship brought together top NHL players from the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland. After the round-robin stage, the U.S. and Canada advanced to the final, setting up a highly anticipated showdown. Their matchup at TD Garden in Boston saw momentum shift multiple times, keeping fans on edge.

Canada secured a 3-2 overtime victory, but not everyone accepted the result. Some fans questioned the officiating, pointing out that multiple referees were Canadian. Others criticized the tournament format, arguing that it unfairly favored Canada. The heated reactions intensified the long-standing hockey rivalry between the two nations.

A Back-and-Forth Championship Battle

The 4 Nations Face-Off Championship final between Canada and the United States on Thursday, February 20, 2025, was a hard-fought battle from start to finish. Both teams, stacked with NHL talent, showcased high-speed, physical hockey in front of a packed crowd at Boston’s TD Garden.

Canada struck first just over five minutes into the game. Defenseman Thomas Harley set up Nathan MacKinnon with a crisp pass, and MacKinnon wasted no time. With a quick wrist shot from the top of the slot, he sent the puck through traffic and past U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, giving Canada a 1-0 lead.

Team USA responded late in the first period. Captain Auston Matthews drove toward the net and attempted a wraparound shot, but Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington made the stop. However, Brady Tkachuk was in position for the rebound, tapping the puck into the net to even the score at 1-1.

Tkachuk’s presence in the game was notable, as his availability had been uncertain leading up to the final. He had left Monday’s game against Sweden early and missed Wednesday’s practice due to illness. But after the first period, he dismissed any doubts about his readiness.

Team USA carried that energy into the second period and took the lead with just over 12 minutes remaining. Defenseman Zach Werenski fired a shot from near the blue line, but Binnington made the save.

Matthews attempted to redirect the rebound to Tkachuk, but the puck deflected off a Canadian stick and landed in front of Jake Sanderson, who wasted no time burying it in the net for a 2-1 U.S. lead.

Canada answered back six minutes later. Mitchell Marner carried the puck into the offensive zone and found Sam Bennett in stride. Bennett skated into the left circle and, from close range, sent a pinpoint shot over Hellebuyck’s shoulder to tie the game at 2-2.

From that moment, every shift was a battle. The third period saw relentless back-and-forth action, with both teams generating scoring chances. The crowd at TD Garden erupted into chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” as Team USA pressed for a late winner, but Binnington and Hellebuyck stood firm, making key saves to force overtime.

The sudden-death overtime period opened with fast, end-to-end play. Team USA nearly won it early when Matthews and Tkachuk each had golden opportunities, but Binnington came up with two critical stops. Canada then had its turn, and when Connor McDavid found open ice, he seized the moment.

Picking up speed, McDavid took control of the puck, maneuvered past a U.S. defender, and snapped a shot past Hellebuyck, securing the championship for Canada. His teammates rushed onto the ice in celebration as U.S. players looked on in disappointment.

MacKinnon, who scored in the final and had four goals in the tournament, was named MVP. But while Team Canada celebrated, not everyone was satisfied with how the game played out. Controversy soon erupted, with some fans claiming the tournament format and officiating were unfair.

NFL Fans React: Accusations of Bias vs. Celebration of the Win

As Team Canada celebrated its championship win, frustration quickly spread among some U.S. fans, who took to social media to voice their anger over the result. Many questioned the fairness of the tournament’s structure, pointing out that Team USA had already beaten Canada 3-1 in the round-robin stage.

One fan wrote, “They won 1 of 2 games. How is this a win?” with another one adding, “Sometimes not the best team wins….great example tonight.” Officiating was another major point of contention. Some fans highlighted that two linesmen and one referee were Canadian, implying possible bias.

“Both linesmen are Canadian and one ref. Odd how this happened,” one user mused. Others were even more direct, with one fan posting, “Bailed out by the refs.” Another user demanded action, writing, “Fire all your refs.” One simple but firm comment read, “Unacceptable.”

Not all fans agreed with the backlash. Some defended Canada’s victory, pointing to the level of competition. “What a great game. So evenly matched. Binnington wow,” one fan wrote. Another highlighted how close Team USA came to winning, “Matthews almost won it, but Binnington was excellent in OT.”

Other fans gave credit where it was due, focusing on individual performances. “Binnington absolutely stole the show,” one comment read. Another declared, “Best player in the world, on the best team in the world.” Some tried to move past the controversy altogether and instead celebrated the opportunity to watch such high-caliber hockey.

“So proud of Team Canada. The players on all the teams are the best in the world. They all love to play the game and really don’t need to have politics thrown in the mix. They played a tight game as expected. Glad all these guys got the opportunity to play together,” a fan commented.

While debates over fairness continued, one thing was certain—the intensity of this matchup had reignited the long-standing USA-Canada hockey rivalry.

The USA-Canada Rivalry Extends Beyond This Tournament

The 4 Nations Face-Off final added to the long history between Team USA and Team Canada. Their first matchup in the tournament, a 3-1 U.S. victory in Montreal, had already set the stage for a heated rematch. That game started with three fights within the first nine seconds — the fastest recorded brawls in an international hockey tournament.

The intensity carried over into the final, with both teams playing physically and the crowd fully engaged. The rivalry wasn’t limited to the ice. Before the first USA-Canada matchup, Canadian fans in Montreal loudly booed “The Star-Spangled Banner” despite an announcement urging the crowd to show respect.

In response, some American fans briefly booed “O Canada” before the final in Boston, though many in the arena joined in singing by the anthem’s conclusion.

Players on both sides acknowledged the weight of the matchup. U.S. defenseman Zach Werenski said, “We knew it was going to be intense. It’s been happening in the NHL before this, and we knew tonight was going to be the same way.”

For some, the game brought back memories of past USA-Canada clashes. Sidney Crosby’s overtime winner in the 2010 Olympic gold medal game remained fresh in the minds of many fans, and McDavid’s goal in this final drew comparisons.

Though the 4 Nations Face-Off was a new tournament, the battle between these two teams remained as fierce as ever. But beyond the emotions and history, Canada’s win carried statistical significance, reinforcing its place at the top of international hockey.

Canada’s Win and What Comes Next

Canada’s victory extended its dominance in best-on-best international hockey. The team has now won five of the last six such tournaments, including Olympic and World Cup titles. Team USA, meanwhile, has not won one since 1996, when it defeated Canada in a best-of-three World Cup final.

While the officiating and tournament format drew criticism from some American fans, the level of competition was undeniable. The final was fast, physical, and decided by strong goaltending and timely goals.

With the NHL season resuming, many of these players will soon face each other as opponents again. But with the 2026 Winter Olympics approaching, this tournament may have been a preview of another high-stakes USA-Canada showdown on the world stage.