Fights and anthem boos ignited excitement among even casual hockey fans for Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship. Team USA and Team Canada faced off in Boston for the tournament’s final in its inaugural year, just five days after their first game saw three fights break out in the opening nine seconds. The altercations, which followed a Montreal crowd’s loud booing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” captivated non-hockey fans and turned the event into the most significant hockey game to date.
According to ESPN, 9.3 million viewers in the United States tuned in for the final on Thursday night, marking the highest Nielsen rating in NHL history since 1994. This viewership figure more than doubled the 4.4 million who watched the previous Saturday’s game. The previous record for Nielsen ratings was set during Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, which drew 8.9 million viewers, also held at Boston’s TD Garden. Notably, 12.41 million people watched Game 7 of the 1971 Cup Final between the Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Blackhawks.
The 4 Nations Face-Off championship became the most-watched hockey game since the 2010 Olympic gold medal match between Canada and the U.S., which attracted over 27 million viewers. Unfortunately for American fans, Thursday’s game mirrored that gold medal match, which ended with a Sidney Crosby overtime goal for Canada. This time, Connor McDavid scored in overtime, securing the title for Team Canada.
With this victory, Canada improved its record to 14-4-1 against the U.S. in best-on-best matchups, including notable wins in the 2010 and 2002 Olympic gold medal games and the 2014 Olympic semifinal. Although the Americans triumphed in Saturday’s intense contest, they have not managed to win consecutive games against Canada since 1996.
Despite initial concerns about the tournament’s appeal, it has successfully energized the sport and garnered significant attention.