A whole new competition will serve as a star match in the National Hockey League (NHL) this year. Four of the largest powers in world hockey will compete in a short, but intense tournament in order to crown the first nation champion of the confrontation of the 4 nations.
Canada, the United States, Finland and Sweden will meet iron during this event which will take place in Montreal and Boston from February 12 to 20.
This will be the first opportunity for hockey lovers to see the best against the best at work in the same tournament from the Hockey World Cup … in 2016.
Here is in detail what you need to know about this new confrontation.
When: February 12 to 20
Or: Montreal and Boston
Teams: Canada, United States, Finland and Sweden
The distribution schedule at TVA Sports
Wednesday February 12 | Canada c. Sweden | 8 p.m.
Thursday February 13 | United States c. Finland | 8 p.m.
Saturday February 15 | Finland c. Sweden | 1 p.m.
Saturday February 15 | United States c. Canada | 8 p.m.
Monday February 17 | Canada c. Finland | 1 p.m.
Monday February 17 | Sweden c. United States | 8 p.m.
Thursday February 20 | Grand finale | 8 p.m.
How does it work?
The format is simple. Each country clashes once and the two teams that have collected the most points access the grand finale. The points are also calculated differently than in regular season in the NHL.
- 3 points for a victory in regulation time
- 2 points for a prolongation victory or in dam fire
- 1 point for a defeat in overtime or in dam fire
- 0 point for a defeat in regulation time
With the exception of the calculation method to establish the classification for the final, the tournament will be governed by the NHL regulation book.
During the preliminary round, the extension will be disputed at three against three and will be lasting 10 minutes. The dam fire will follow if the extension has not made a winner.
For the final, the extension will be disputed at five for five during periods of 20 minutes until there was a winner.
-Why only four countries?
The NHL has decided to limit the number of countries participating in four for this first edition according to the number of players who are playing in the NHL this season. However, it would not be surprising that the instances of the league may decide to expand the number of nations that will take part in the tournament.
The Czech Republic, the winners of the last world championship and possibly Russia, dismissed due to the war in Ukraine, could be two excellent candidates. And why not a Europe team? To follow …
The best against the best for the first time since … 2016!
Difficult to design that it has been practically 10 years since the best hockey players on the planet did not compete in the same tournament. The NHL was not from the last two Olympic Games and the world championship is often devoid of the best elements since the tournament takes place at the same time as the STANLEY Cup series.
Even if Russia and Czech Republic will not be there, the fact remains that the confrontation of the 4 nations will line up 8 of the 10 best NLC markers both among the attackers and among the defenders.
For Canada, it will finally be an opportunity to see Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby in the same team at work, in addition to Nathan Mackinnon.
The United States will be able to count on an outstanding marker in Auston Matthews, on the best goalkeeper of the Connor Hellebuyck circuit and on one of the most skilful defenders of its Hughes Quinn generation.
The defensive brigade of Sweden is probably the most complete and the most stable of the tournament with Victor Hedman as a pillar.
And you should never count Finland to beaten, which prioritizes an airtight style during this type of tournament. Aleksander Barkov will have the mandate to measure himself with the best units, his bread and his butter.
Complete training
