The 4 Nations Face Off is fast approaching, and the captains for the tournament have been revealed. Sidney Crosby Canada), Aleksander Barkov Finland), Victor Hedman Sweden), and Auston Matthews USA) have been chosen to lead their respective nations in the upcoming best-on-best international event. The tournament, which will run from February 12-20 in Montreal and Boston, will feature seven games over nine days. Each of these players, all of whom wear the "C" for their NHL teams, brings a wealth of international experience, with a combined total of 17 international medals, including eight golds. Crosby, the only one of the four to captain his national team in past competitions, last did so during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, where he also won tournament MVP.
Fleury's Emotional Shutout in Likely Final Visit to Montreal
Marc-Andr Fleury delivered a memorable performance with a 19-save shutout against the Montreal Canadiens, securing his 76th career shutout and tying Ed Belfour and Tony Esposito for 10th on the NHL's all-time shutout list. The 40-year-old, a native of Sorel-Tracy, Quebec https://www.iihfworldchampionship.com/collections/team-canada-travis-sanheim-jersey, was honored with a standing ovation from fans and handshakes from Canadiens players, marking what could be his last appearance at Bell Centre. With this shutout, Fleury also set a new record by becoming the first goalie in NHL history to record a shutout as both a teenager and at 40 years or older. Fleury has now recorded a shutout in 21 different seasons, surpassing Terry Sawchuk and tying Martin Brodeur for the most seasons with a shutout in NHL history.
Senators Hold Off Ovechkin and Capitals in Overtime
The Ottawa Senators edged out the Washington Capitals in a thrilling overtime victory, with Josh Norris scoring a shorthanded penalty shot and Thomas Chabot netting the game-winning goal. Ovechkin, who contributed a goal and two assists, continued his chase for the all-time goal-scoring record. Norris and Chabot each posted multi-point performances, and Claude Giroux marked his 1, 100th career point. Ovechkin, now just a few goals shy of surpassing Wayne Gretzkys all-time goal record, scored his 876th career goal, setting a new milestone.
Stars Shine Before the 4 Nations Face Off
As the 4 Nations Face Off approaches, several players who will take part in the tournament made their mark with impressive performances. Kyle Connor USA) reached his 30th goal of the season Nathan MacKinnon 4NF Jersey, while Brandon Hagel Canada) recorded a three-point night to help the Tampa Bay Lightning secure a crucial win. Anthony Cirelli Canada) added a shorthanded goal to his tally, marking his 17th career shorthanded goal, placing him among the top 10 active players in that category. Additionally, Seth Jarvis Canada) reached his 20th goal of the season, helping the Carolina Hurricanes become the second team to reach 20 home wins this season.
Playoff Race Heats Up: Islanders and Blue Jackets Gain Ground
In the latest NHL standings, both the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders secured important wins in the playoff race. The Blue Jackets, thanks to a game-winning overtime goal from Cole Sillinger, overtook the Bruins for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Adam Fantilli also contributed a goal, moving him past Nikolay Zherdev in the Blue Jackets record books for goals through 100 games. Meanwhile, Ilya Sorokin posted a 23-save shutout for the Islanders, who extended their win streak to six games, keeping them in the thick of the playoff hunt.
NHL HOCKEYVERSE Matchup of the Week Premieres February 1
Starting February 1, the NHL will debut its new animated program, the NHL HOCKEYVERSE Matchup of the Week, available on Sportsnet, NHL Network, and the NHL YouTube channel. This 30-minute show will recap a previous NHL matchup in an animated format, featuring teenaged commentators and dynamic, realistic visualizations of the action. The first episode will air on February 1 at 9 a.m. ET and will highlight the Vancouver Canucks' 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals, which saw two goals from Quinn Hughes.
Stars and Canucks Face Off on Friday
On the final Friday of January, a matchup between future 4 Nations Face Off participants Elias Pettersson Sweden) of the Vancouver Canucks and Roope Hintz Finland) of the Dallas Stars will take center stage. Pettersson, who has been excellent against Hintz in their past meetings, leads Vancouver in points, while Hintz has been a key contributor to Dallas's success this season. This exciting clash will be broadcast on Sportsnet and is sure to be a preview of the upcoming international tournament.