The new NHL 4 Nations Face-Off isn’t the Junior Olympics. It’s more like the Olympics Jr.
Instead of an All-Star break, the NHL is introducing an all-new “best-on-best” tournament, pro hockey’s first since the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. For the stars from the countries taking part in the tournament, it’s a few extra games to claim bragging rights about the best hockey nation until the Winter Olympics take place a year from now. Here’s your complete guide to the 4 Nations Face-Off. To watch games on TNT (channel 138), ABC (check your local guide, and ESPN (channel 140), subscribe to America’s Top 120. Not a DISH subscriber? Follow this link to find the best offer and subscribe to DISH today!
What countries are participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off?
As you might have suspected, the NHL’s home countries of the U.S. and Canada will be participating. The other two nations are Finland and Sweden – collectively, the last four countries to win Olympic medals with NHL players participating. In fact, the 4 Nations Face-Off is an early preview of next year’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, which is expected to include NHL players for the first time since 2014. Here are the current odds for each nation, according to DraftKings:
USA: +150
Canada: +150
Sweden: + 450
Finland: +1000
What is the 4 Nations Face-Off format?
The tournament is a round-robin format, with each team playing three games against each other. The rules will be exactly the same as those in the NHL, as are the standings, with teams earning three points for a win in regulation; two points for an overtime or shootout win; one point for an overtime/ shootout loss; and no points for losses in regulation. After the round-robin games are played, the top two teams in points will face-off in the Championship game on Thurs., Feb. 20.
What is the 4 Nations Face-Off Schedule?
Here’s the full schedule of games:
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Canada vs. Sweden, 8 p.m. ET; TNT/ Max
Thursday, Feb. 13
United States vs. Finland, 8 p.m. ET; ESPN
Saturday, Feb. 15
Finland vs. Sweden, 1 p.m. ET; ABC
United States vs. Canada, 8 p.m. ET; ABC
Monday, Feb. 17
Canada vs. Finland, 1 p.m. ET; TNT/ Max
Sweden vs. United States, 8 p.m. ET; TNT/ Max
Thursday, Feb. 20
Championship game, 8 p.m. ET; ESPN
Where are the 4 Nations hockey games held?
The first four games will be played at the Bell Centre in Montreal, home of the Canadiens. After that, the final two games and Championship will be held on the home ice of the Bruins, the TD Garden in Boston.
What are the rosters for each team?
According to the NHL, “each team will consist of 13 forwards, seven defensemen and three goalies.” Here’s a look at the rosters (subject to change):
Team U.S.A. 4 Nations Face-Off Roster
Forwards
Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
Chris Kreider, New York Rangers
Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs*
J.T. Miller, Vancouver Canucks
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
Defensemen
Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild (2022 Olympian)
Adam Fox, New York Rangers
Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights
Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
Goaltenders
Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins
* Team Captain
Team Canada 4 Nations Face-Off Roster
Forwards
Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers
Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (2010, 2014 Olympian)*
Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Seth Jarvis, Carolina Hurricanes
Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Defensemen
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers
Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings (replacement for Alex Pietrangelo)
Goaltenders
Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights
Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens
* Team Captain
Team Sweden 4 Nations Face-Off Roster
Forwards
Viktor Arvidsson, Edmonton Oilers
Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils
Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks
Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
William Karlsson, Vegas Golden Knights
Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
Elias Lindholm, Boston Bruins
Gustav Nyquist, Nashville Predators (2014 Olympian)
William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings
Mika Zibanejad New York Rangers
Defensemen
Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames
Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabers (2018 Olympian)
Mattias Ekholm, Edmonton Oilers
Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning*
Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins (2014 Olympian)
Goaltenders
Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild
Jacob Markström, New Jersey Devils
Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators
* Team Captain
Team Finland 4 Nations Face-Off Roster
Forwards
Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
Joel Armia, Montreal Canadiens
Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers (2014 Olympian)*
Mikael Granlund, San Jose Sharks (2014 Olympian)
Erik Haula, New Jersey Devils
Roope Hintz, Carolina Hurricanes
Kaapo Kakko, New York Rangers
Patrik Laine, Montreal Canadiens
Artturi Lehkonen, Colorado Avalanche
Anton Lundell, Florida Panthers
Eetu Luostarinen, Florida Panthers
Mikko Rantanen, Carolina Hurricanes
Teuvo Teräväinen, Chicago Blackhawks
Defensemen
Jani Hakanpää, Toronto Maple Leafs
Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars (2018 Olympian)
Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars
Niko Mikkola, Florida Panthers
Olli Määttä, Utah Hockey Club (2014 Olympian)
Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers
Juuso Välimäki, Utah Hockey Club
Goaltenders
Kevin Lankinen, Vancouver Canucks
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo Sabres
Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators
* Team Captain
When does the NHL return from break?
The NHL break begins on Monday, Feb. 10. Following the 4 Nations Championship on Thurs., Feb. 20, the NHL season resumes with a loaded slate of games on Sat., Feb. 22. Following the break, NHL Center Ice will be in free preview from Feb. 24 to March 2. Follow this link to add NHL Center Ice to your DISH subscription today!
