BREAKING: New York Rangers lands new deal with Seattle Kraken for Top Forward
Saturday is shaping up to be the most exciting day of the 4 Nations Face-Off, as two major rivalry matchups take center stage at Bell Centre in Montreal.
Sweden and Finland will clash in the afternoon, followed by an intense showdown between Canada and the United States in the evening. Depending on your perspective, either could be considered the bigger rivalry, but in terms of tournament stakes, the Canada-USA matchup holds extra significance. Team USA leads the standings with three points, while Canada sits just behind with two, making this game crucial for securing the top seed.
The round-robin tournament continues Monday at TD Garden in Boston, leading up to the championship game on Thursday night.
Beyond the on-ice battle, there’s added intrigue surrounding Saturday’s Canada-USA game. During Team USA’s 6-1 win over Finland on Thursday, the American National Anthem was loudly booed by the predominantly Canadian crowd, a reaction that went beyond typical rivalry tensions. Several U.S. players expressed surprise at the hostility, with some attributing it to the current political climate between the two nations.
As for the hockey itself, both matchups promise to deliver high-level competition. Five of the six New York Rangers selected for the 4 Nations Face-Off are expected to play, though Chris Kreider—who was a healthy scratch against Finland—will likely sit out again. No Rangers player recorded a point in Thursday’s opening games.
Looking ahead, the NHL regular season resumes in one week, with the Rangers set to begin their 27-game stretch drive on the road. They’ll face the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Islanders before returning home for four games, including a rematch with the Islanders. The stretch leads up to the March 7 trade deadline, where roster moves could impact the team’s playoff push.
Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, playing for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, shared how he’s gained a deeper appreciation for Auston Matthews’ leadership as the team’s captain.
Meanwhile, former Rangers coach Mike Keenan revealed in a recent interview that he nearly returned to coach the team eight years after leading them to the 1994 Stanley Cup.
On the prospect front, Brennan Othmann is on fire, scoring seven goals in his last nine games. He’ll aim to continue his hot streak Saturday when the Hartford Wolf Pack take on the Charlotte Checkers.
For those looking for midseason evaluations, Forever Blueshirts has released report cards for the Rangers, grading both the forwards in one article and the goalies and defensemen in another.