Instead of having an All-Star Game this season, the NHL and NHLPA are staging the 4 Nations Face-Off, which will run from Feb. 12 through Feb. 20. This is a round-robin tournament that will feature four national teams — Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States — with NHL players from those nations filling the rosters.
The top two teams in the standings after round-robin play will compete in the championship game on Feb. 20. The points system for the round robin will include three points for a regulation win, two points for a win in overtime/shootout, one point for a loss in overtime/shootout and zero points for a regulation loss.
The overtime format for round-robin games is 3-on-3 sudden death for a 10-minute period, followed by a shootout. In the championship game, the overtime format is full-strength sudden death in successive 20-minute periods until one team scores.
Read on for full coverage of the event, including rosters, team previews, betting picks, schedule and broadcast information from the opening round games all the way through the championship matchup.
Keys to winning the gold medal: Canada has arguably the most explosive crop of top-tier skaters in this tournament, and that talent has to be working for them in every period. Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Sam Reinhart, Brayden Point … and on down the list. Coach Jon Cooper can mix and match up front with some of the best offensive threats in the world, and that will be Canada’s weapon at 5-on-5 and the power play.
Scoring should be Canada’s superpower, and depending on how Cooper disperses ice time among the savvy veterans — looking at you, Sidney Crosby — and those under-the-radar finds — Travis Konecny as a 30-goal scorer on the fourth line (?) — Canada will be a nightmare to contain when they have the puck. That alone could carry them to a championship-worthy performance.
X factor: It’s the goaltending. How exactly is Canada going to fare between the pipes? Jordan Binnington appears to be their No. 1 (at least in the early goings) with Adin Hill as his backup. So, no Logan Thompson? Who has the second-best save percentage among NHL starters this season?
All credit to Hill and the fine season he’s had in Vegas, but Canada’s netminding could leave them feeling exposed (Sam Montembeault is the country’s projected third-stringer). And a swell of uncertainty — if it were to come — can seep into the defense, too. Canada’s depth on the back end wasn’t this tournament’s best to begin with, and it took a hit when Alex Pietrangelo — a veteran with championship experience — bowed out due to injury. If goalie confidence becomes shaky, does that also rattle Canada defensively? Mental toughness will be an element in all this as well. — Kristen Shilton
Keys to winning the gold medal: It’s not that Finland doesn’t have players who can score. But a hallmark of Finnish forwards who’ve come to the NHL is that many of them are consistent two-way players. How much does that factor in a tournament in which teams such as Canada and the United States are expected to have large chunks of possession?
Receiving those two-way contributions from forwards — such as two-time Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov, Sebastian Aho, Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz — could prove even more crucial.
X factor: How they manage without Miro Heiskanen. Losing Heiskanen was significant beyond the fact that he’s one of the NHL’s premier defensemen. Heiskanen can do everything — from logging heavy 5-on-5 minutes to running a power play to anchoring a penalty kill to making life difficult for an opposing top line.
Figuring out how they can make up for his absence could be the difference in playing in the championship game or finishing in a less desirable place. — Ryan S. Clark
Keys to winning the gold medal: Sweden’s back end should be its backbone. Led by the incomparable Victor Hedman, the Swedish defense could be the tournament’s best, and that bodes well for their prospects. The Swedes’ blue line has a strong mix of talent with players who can provide offense — Hedman and Rasmus Dahlin, especially — with Gustav Forsling, Mattias Ekholm and Jonas Brodin locking things down behind them. Add Erik Karlsson’s general ability to that mix and no matter how you slice it, there’s something special for Sweden to tap.
If the forwards can complement a strong defensive game with consistent scoring, then the Swedes might have the right recipe for success.
X factor: Can Sweden overcome potentially losing both the goalies originally named to their roster? And, if the goaltending situation is impacted, will Sweden get the offensive performances it needs to outlast countries like the USA and Canada? Projected starter Jacob Markstrom was already replaced by Samuel Ersson; Linus Ullmark has been battling injury for much of this season.
That doesn’t speak to a possibly dominant showing in the crease. Leaving that aside though, can Sweden squeeze enough from their top-six forward group — with the likes of William Nylander and Filip Forberg leading the way — to keep pace with the aforementioned juggernauts? It might come down to will over thrill for this Swedish team to be victorious. — Shilton
Keys to winning the gold medal: Do they want to play fast? Do they want to be physical? Do they want to constantly apply pressure? Do they want to create lines that can score? Do they want lines that make two-way play a priority? Or do they want all of the above?
Asking this many questions about the U.S. speaks to how many directions the tactics can go, with a roster that is arguably the most talented in the tournament, top to bottom. The notion that there appears to be several identities the U.S. could have makes this roster adaptable to every situation. That could prove useful in their bid to win gold.
X factor: The defensive pairings. Let’s recap. Adam Fox and Quinn Hughes are Norris Trophy winners. Charlie McAvoy and Jaccob Slavin have finished in the top 10 in Norris voting on multiple occasions. Zach Werenski and his point-per-game average is factoring into this season’ Norris discussion. Noah Hanifin‘s athleticism and length makes finding time and space a problem, while Brock Faber was already a legitimate No. 1 option as a rookie last season.
And yet? One of them will be the U.S.’s seventh defenseman up in the press box. Which combinations would make the most sense for the U.S.? And can those pairings help lead the nation to a first-place finish in the build-up to the 2026 Olympics? — Clark
Betting pick
If nothing else, the Finnish defense and Canadian goaltending certainly suggest that a team of All-Star-caliber forwards on both sides of the puck can drive scoring to a total greater than 5.5. These forward lines are so stacked on each of these teams, how can we not go in expecting goalscoring showcases?
Not that many of the players involved will be the same, but the last four Olympics with NHLers had all four of these nations averaging close to four goals per game each. The 2016 World Cup of Hockey, which was much more condensed and NHL-roster heavy, had a total of 7.88 goals per game from both sides across all games.
These aren’t apples-to-apples comparisons, but when you distill the skill on rosters to the point that some fourth lines look like top scoring lines on some NHL teams, we anticipate lots of goals.
Give me the over on any game that doesn’t involve Connor Hellebuyck and the United States team defense. — Sean Allen
DALLAS — Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele scored a goal in his club’s must-win Game 6 of the second-round playoff series at Dallas on Saturday night, hours after the unexpected death of his father.
But he also had the penalty that set up the Stars’ power-play goal in overtime for a 2-1 win that knocked the top-ranked Jets out of the playoffs.
Jets captain Adam Lowry went and got Scheifele out of the box when the game ended.
“We’re a family. Just to let him know that we’re there for him. It’s just an awful day for him,” Lowry said. “You want to give him the strength, you want to get that kill so bad. We just couldn’t do it.”
During the handshake line afterward, Scheifele hugged and talked to just about everyone, with Stars players clearly offering their support to him in a heartwarming moment.
Scheifele scored his fifth goal of the playoffs 5½ minutes into the second period to give the Jets a 1-0 lead. He scored on a short snap shot from just outside the crease after gathering the rebound of a shot by Kyle Connor.
“I just I know we have a great group here. I knew, going in, once we found out the news that he’s going to have a great support group and we’re going to be there for him through the highs and the lows and obviously today was a real low,” defenseman Neal Pionk said of Scheifele. “[We] did everything we could to give him some words of encouragement, [and] for him to play tonight, and play the way he did, is flat out one of the most courageous things we’ve ever seen.”
The game was tied at 1 when Sam Steel, who had already scored for Dallas, was on a break. Scheifele lunged forward desperately trying to make a play when he tripped up the forward at the blue line with 14.8 seconds in regulation. Scheifele and the Jets avoided a penalty shot on the play, but ended up losing on the power play when Thomas Harley scored 1:33 into overtime.
Jets coach Scott Arniel said the news of Brad Scheifele’s passing overnight was difficult for the entire team. The team was told before the optional morning skate.
“On behalf of the Winnipeg Jets family, our condolences to Mark and his family. It rocked us all this morning when we found out,” Arniel said before the game. “Mark will be playing tonight. As he said, that’d be the wishes of his dad. He would have wanted him to play.”
Scheifele was the last Jets player to leave the ice following pregame warmups, and during at least part of the singing of “O Canada,” he had his head bowed and his eyes closed. He took the opening faceoff against Roope Hintz.
“The thing about Mr. Scheifele is he’s part of our family. He’s part of the Jets family. He goes back to 2011 when Mark was first drafted here,” Arniel said. “We have a lot of players that came in around the time that are still here that he’s been a big part of their life, along with their family. So it’s certainly, obviously devastating for Mark, but also for a lot of guys on this team.”
Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said the organization was doing everything it can to support Scheifele. There was no immediate word on the cause of Brad Scheifele’s death.
The 32-year-old Mark Scheifele finished with 11 points (five goals, six assists) while playing in 11 of the Jets’ 13 games this postseason. He missed Games 6 and 7 of the first-round series against St. Louis with an undisclosed injury after taking a pair of big hits early in Game 5 of that series.
In Game 5 against the Stars on Thursday night, a 4-0 win by Winnipeg that extended the series, Scheifele was sucker-punched by Stars captain Jamie Benn during a late scrum. Benn got a game misconduct penalty and was fined by the NHL the maximum-allowed $5,000 but avoided a suspension.
Scheifele had 87 points (39 goals and 48 assists) in the 82 regular-season games.
DALLAS — Thomas Harley scored on a power play 1:33 into overtime and the Dallas Stars advanced to the Western Conference final for the third season in a row, beating the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets2-1 in Game 6 on Saturday night.
Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets hours after the unexpected death of his father, but also had a tripping penalty with 14.8 seconds left in regulation that set up Dallas to start overtime with a man advantage.
Sam Steel, who had scored earlier for Dallas, was on a break when Scheifele lunged forward desperately trying to make a play when he tripped up the forward at the blue line. The Stars called a timeout, but missed a shot and had another one blocked before the end of regulation.
The Stars move on to face the Edmonton Oilers in the West final for the second year in a row and will host Game 1. Connor McDavid and his club, which won in six games last year, wrapped up their second-round series with a 1-0 overtime win over Vegas on Wednesday night in Game 5.
Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger made 22 saves to wrap up his sixth playoff series win over the past three seasons. He made an incredible diving save with 8½ minutes left in regulation, leaning to the right before having to lunge back across his body toward the left post to knock down a shot by Mason Appleton.
Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 19 shots but couldn’t prevent a loss that assured a winless record for his club on the road this postseason. Meanwhile, his final goal allowed continued a magical season for Harley, Dallas’ breakout blueliner who also played for Team Canada this season in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“Not surprising to the guys in here,” Oettinger said of Harley’s rise to prominence. “We’re very lucky.”
Steel notched his first goal of the playoffs midway through the second period. He shot a long rebound from the top of the right circle, sending the puck into the upper right corner of the net just above Hellebuyck’s glove.
“I’m just disappointed,” Winnipeg captain Adam Lowry said. “We couldn’t get that [penalty] kill for [the fans], and get it back to win in Winnipeg for Game 7. But you know, [I’m] really proud of this group, and the way they handled everything, and the way we fought back. … It just came up short.”
The Jets become the next in a long line of Presidents’ Trophy winners to bow out early. The award, which goes to the NHL’s top regular-season team, was won by the New York Rangers last season before they lost in the Eastern Conference final. Two years ago, the No. 1 seed Boston Bruins lost in the first round to the Florida Panthers.
“We lost to a great team,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “We lost to a team that was in our rearview mirror all year long.”
Scheifele’s effort was a focus for Dallas coach Pete DeBoer, who began his postgame media availability by saying what the Jets star forward did in playing Saturday was “courageous,” adding “I’m sure his dad would’ve been really proud of him and what he did.”
For the Stars, it’s off to the NHL’s final four, as the franchise continues to seek its second Stanley Cup title.
“I think we’ve got something special going on. We’re going to have to prove it again,” DeBoer said. “You know, we’ve been to this spot the last two years and haven’t taken the next step, so that’s the challenge.”
As the Vegas Golden Knights absorb being knocked out in the second round of the NHL playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers, they don’t have to wait long before planning for their future. Jack Eichel, who has one season left on his eight-year, $80 million contract, is eligible for an extension beginning July 1.
“He’s one of the top guys in the NHL,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “He’s got great character, great leadership. You see night in, night out what he does for our team, so that will be a really important piece of business for us. We certainly hope to keep Jack in our organization. Jack loves it here, so I would hope we could find common ground.”
Eichel, 28, comes off the best season of his 10-year career, the past four with the Golden Knights. He set career highs with 66 assists and 94 points to go with 28 goals as the center on the team’s top line. He also skated for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off, where his club finished second to Canada.
“Can’t say enough about my teammates and the people in this building and the people that make this organization what it is,” Eichel said. “I’m super proud to be part of this organization and the city and represent the Vegas Golden Knights. Contractually, I think things kind of take care of itself. I’ll just worry about trying to prepare for next season this offseason and go from there.”
Management, which is not known for sitting on its hands, will have other significant decisions to make as well on the team’s direction after the Golden Knights were eliminated in the second round for the second year in a row.
“I like our team,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I don’t have a problem with any player in that room. I think every one of them is a great teammate. They care about one another. Are there areas of our game we could complement better? Probably. We’ll evaluate that.
“All the guys that were up, their contracts, they were all good players for us. All good players. No disappointments at all. We’ll probably have to look at areas because we’re not the last team standing. Usually, you think, ‘Where can we upgrade? Where can I upgrade what I do?'”
McCrimmon offered a similar assessment.
“I feel our team was good enough to win,” McCrimmon said.
The Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup two years ago and thought they had another contender this season after capturing the Pacific Division and securing the Western Conference’s second-best record. But Vegas had to rally from a 2-1 series deficit to beat Minnesota in the opening round, winning twice in overtime. Then the Golden Knights lost two overtime games in the 4-1 series loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
“I didn’t walk away from Edmonton saying, ‘We had no chance. They’re just better,'” Cassidy said. “I didn’t feel that way. I felt we needed to execute better in a few of the games and we could be the team moving on.”
Forward William Karlsson said losing to the Oilers made it “a wasted season.” McCrimmon wasn’t as blunt, instead labeling the loss as “a missed opportunity.”
Change will come, but at least given the tenor of the comments by Cassidy and McCrimmon, the Golden Knights will largely return their roster intact next season.
“I think we have a great organization,” goaltender Adin Hill said. “Best management I’ve been under. I think they’re going to do the things that they see fit for [the] roster, whether it’s keeping it the same or whether it’s changing up a few things. I don’t know. That’s their decision, above my paygrade, but it will be exciting to see. We know that we’re going to be contenders every year.”
Forward Reilly Smith made it clear he wants to return. An original Golden Knight, Smith was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins after winning the Stanley Cup and then sent to the New York Rangers a year later. The Golden Knights reacquired the 34-year-old on March 6.
Smith made a smooth transition back into the lineup with three goals and eight assists in 21 games. Then he delivered the play of the postseason for the Golden Knights, scoring with 0.4 seconds left to beat the Oilers in Game 3, and finished with three goals and an assist in 11 playoff games.
“Probably the best hockey I’ve played in my career has been wearing this jersey,” Smith said. “It’s a fun group to be a part of and a fun place to call home. My family loves it here, so if there’s a way to make it work, it’d be great. At the end of the day, it’s a business. My contract negotiations, I probably know as little as [the media does] right now.”