Jason LaRose
The day has come. After almost nine years, best-on-best competition returns as Canada opens up the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden in Montreal.
The day has finally come. Almost nine years after the last best-on-best tournament – the 2016 World Cup of Hockey – Canada opens up the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Last Meeting
The last time the Canadians and Swedes met in any senior men’s competition was the bronze medal game at the 2024 IIHF World Championship last spring in Prague. Dylan Cozens and Pierre-Luc Dubois gave Canada a 2-1 lead early in the third period, but three unanswered goals in the final 10:25 were enough for Sweden to earn a 4-2 win.
For the last time the long-time international rivals met in best-on-best competition (and we’re including Canada Cups, World Cups and Olympics with NHLers in that category), you have to go back to the gold medal game at the 2014 Games in Sochi. Jonathan Toews opened the scoring (just as he had in the 2010 gold medal game), Sidney Crosby closed the scoring (just as he had in the 2010 gold medal game) and Carey Price made 24 saves for the shutout as Canada claimed another Olympic gold with a 3-0 win.
What to Watch
Have you seen the Canadian roster? You think we can pick just one player? More than 13,000 NHL games. More than 10,000 points. Twenty Stanley Cup championships. Thirty-three individual NHL honours. But alright, let’s focus on one – how about arguably the greatest leader in Canadian hockey history with the ‘C’ on his chest? Crosby has tallied 67 points (32-35—67) in 54 international games, winning two Olympic gold medals, one each at Men’s Worlds and World Juniors, and a World Cup title. He is the only player in the IIHF Triple Gold Club to win all three legs as captain – Olympic gold, IIHF World Championship gold and the Stanley Cup. Remarkably, it has been almost 22 years since the pride of Cole Harbour first donned the Maple Leaf, as a 15-year-old at the 2003 U18 World Cup. Crosby is still a force to be reckoned with in his 20th NHL season; he has recorded 58 points (17-41—58) in 55 games, on pace to finish as a point-per-game player for the 20th time in as many seasons.
Sweden may not have the top-to-bottom star power of the Canadians, but there are certainly a few players who deserve a little extra attention. Let’s start with one familiar to Canadian hockey fans – William Nylander. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward sits second in the NHL with 33 goals this season and has been terrific wearing the Tre Kronor; Nylander’s last international appearance came at the 2019 IIHF World Championship when he led the tournament with 18 points (5-13—18) despite the Swedes going out in the quarterfinals. And since we mentioned Crosby, we’d be remiss not to mention the Swedish captain – Victor Hedman. The veteran defenceman has a trophy case that includes Men’s Worlds gold, two Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Norris Trophy, along with more than 700 points in more than 1,000 NHL games. Only three Swedish blue-liners have recorded more points – two (Nicklas Lidstrom and Borje Salming) are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the third, Erik Karlsson, will join Hedman at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
A Look Back
If we look back strictly at best-on-best competition, dating back to the 1976 Canada Cup, the Canadians have a decided advantage, winning 10 of the 12 meetings.
The only other matchup in a gold medal game or tournament final came at the 1984 Canada Cup, when Canada swept the best-of-three final in Alberta. Michel Goulet had two goals and an assist to in a 5-2 win in Game 1 in Calgary before 12 players recorded points in the opening 17 minutes to help Canada to a 5-0 first-period lead in Game 2 in Edmonton, en route to a 6-5 victory.
All-time record: Canada leads 10-2-0 (1-0 in OT) Canada goals: 45 Sweden goals: 27