NHL 4 Nations Face-Off: Injury Drama and Intense Overtime Rules
The 4 Nations Face-Off has been nothing short of thrilling, and now it all comes down to the highly anticipated championship game between the United States and Canada. But the road to the final hasn’t been easy, especially for Team USA, which has been dealing with major injury concerns.
One of the biggest blows for the American squad is the loss of defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who suffered a significant shoulder injury. He was even hospitalized for an infection in his right shoulder, ruling him out for the final against Canada. While McAvoy won’t be on the ice, he made a special appearance in the locker room to announce the starting lineup for Team USA, hyping up his teammates ahead of the big game.
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In response to McAvoy’s absence, there were talks about bringing in Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes as a replacement. However, Hughes hasn't been medically cleared to play, leaving Team USA with just six healthy defensemen. According to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, an emergency replacement can only be added if the team falls below six available defensemen. That means, unless another injury occurs, Team USA will have to move forward without McAvoy or a replacement.
The injury concerns don’t stop there. The Americans have also been closely monitoring Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk, both of whom missed Monday’s game. Brady Tkachuk also had to leave early due to an injury scare. Fortunately for Team USA, both Tkachuk brothers and Matthews are expected to be ready for the final, giving the Americans a much-needed boost against a tough Canadian team.
As for the game itself, overtime rules will be different from the earlier rounds. During the round-robin stage, teams played a 10-minute, 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime—similar to an extended NHL regular-season format. However, in the championship game, it’s all business. The teams will play full 20-minute periods of 5-on-5 overtime until someone scores, just like in the NHL playoffs. That means if this game goes the distance, players will be pushed to their absolute limits, making for an intense and dramatic showdown.
With injuries shaking up the American roster and a high-stakes overtime format in play, all eyes will be on this final battle between hockey powerhouses. Canada vs. USA—one game for the title, with no room for error. Get ready for a game that could go down in history!
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