Hockey is a game of inches.
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, representing Team Sweden, posted an underwhelming stat line in Wednesday’s 4 Nations Face-Off opener at Montreal’s Bell Centre against Canada — no points, minus-1, and two shots. But he nearly became the hero.
Both of Zibanejad’s shots came in overtime — a 10-minute, sudden-death 3-on-3 battle that should make the NHL reconsider its current overtime format.
One minute and 57 seconds into extra time, Zibanejad took a one-timer from the face-off circle, nearly finishing off a gorgeous cross-seam pass from Rickard Rakell before being stymied by Canada and St. Louis Blues netminder Jordan Binnington.
“Closer towards the end of the first,” Zibanejad told reporters after the game. “From there on, I think we start playing a little bit more. I think we’re playing a good game, with the chances in overtime, could’ve won this game.”
Had Binnington not kept his stick on the ice, Zibanejad would’ve beaten him through the five-hole.
Just over four minutes later, Mitch Marner snapped the winner past Filip Gustavsson to finish a 4-3 win for Canada, putting an end to a game that shouldn’t have made it to overtime given the star power imbalance between the two countries.
Here are three takeaways from the tournament-opening game.
The case for a 10-minute 3-on-3 overtime
There hasn’t been a more exciting period of hockey this season than the overtime of Wednesday’s game.
It was just over six minutes of nonstop, back-and-forth scoring chances. The teams combined for 12 shots in the frame — eight by Canada and four by Sweden. The crowd chanted Sidney Crosby’s name.
The pinnacle of overtime came four-and-a-half minutes in. Mattias Ekholm’s wrap-around attempt slid through the crease. As his two linemates crashed the net, the puck came loose, resulting in a 3-on-1 rush for Canada.
The three Canadian players on the ice? Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar.
Granted, no team can throw these three on the ice in the regular season. And the trio did not score, either — MacKinnon’s wrist shot was kicked away by Gustavsson.
No sane hockey fan can argue that a shootout would be more exciting than this. The league originally implemented the 3-on-3 format in 2015 because many felt that too many games were ending in shootouts.
The 3-on-3 format has helped diminish the number of shootouts. Last season, the NHL was on track to have 70% of its extra-time games end in overtime instead of a shootout, a league record.
As McDavid told reporters after Wednesday’s showdown, “I don’t think really anyone wants it to go to a shootout.”
Had the full 10 minutes of overtime elapsed without a goal, it would have. But there was no chance of that happening.
At 37, ‘Sid the Kid’ shows why he’s still Canada’s best
It took Crosby 56 seconds to leave his mark.
On an early power play for Canada, Crosby made a no-look backhand pass through the crease right to MacKinnon — who he’d glanced at a few seconds earlier to see where he was. It was vintage Crosby and his first of three primary assists.
MCDAVID ➡️ CROSBY ➡️ MACKINNON 56 SECONDS IN 😱
THIS IS WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF! #4NATIONS
🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/A33MEOedVI— NHL (@NHL) February 13, 2025
On a late second-period rush, Crosby fought off Gustav Forsling before spinning and finding Mark Stone for a one-timer in the slot, increasing Canada’s lead to two.
And in overtime, Crosby made a play that few NHLers would dare attempt. As he entered the offensive zone, Crosby made a near-two-line drop pass to Marner, who was at full speed. Marner’s winner capped off a signature performance for Crosby, who led the Canadians in scoring and was named player of the game.
The value of in-season national tournaments
The 4 Nations Face-Off is the first NHL international tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The league also has not sent its players to the Olympics since 2014.
Zibanejad, the only New York Rangers player in action Wednesday, started and skated on Sweden’s top line alongside Rakell and William Nylander.
“The whole thing has just been an excitement for me,” Zibanejad told reporters on Tuesday, following Team Sweden’s practice. “Not only to play against the best, Team Canada, U.S., and Finland, but to play with the best players from Sweden and get that opportunity, and just the talent level that is out there for the practices, yesterday, today, it’s been a lot of fun.”
The break from the NHL schedule may be good for players like Zibanejad, who has been struggling offensively this season. Playing a few games with his fellow countrymen could help him rediscover his scoring touch in a less structured system.
The competition level on Wednesday indicates that this is going to be eight days of pure excitement—the same level as the World Cup or the Olympics when the NHL took part. Even though it’s a round-robin of only four teams, it’s refreshing to see the players treat this tournament like any other international competition.
“I feel like a kid again,” said Zibanejad. “Speaking Swedish to my teammates, having meetings in Swedish. It kind of brings you back.”
