OPINION: 4 Nations Face-Off Puts other All-Star Games to Shame

Before the 4 Nations Face-Off began, I was pretty skeptical of the concept. Look at the soft “All-Star” games across the country. The NBA All-Star Game has just become a zero-defense skills showcase game. The MLB All-Star Game is still played somewhat hard, but it does not mean anything anymore. Don’t even get me started on the NFL Pro Bowl becoming a flag football game—IT’s AFTER THE SEASON IS ALREADY OVER! They all have a week-long build-up filled with competitions and showcases throughout the week rather than just playing.

I enjoy bits and pieces of each All-Star Week, including the NHL All-Star Weekend. However, replacing niche skills competitions with a week of games is far more entertaining.

It is not an All-Star game; it is best-on-best international play. The 4 Nations Face-Off is just different, and it needs to put the rest of the professional sports leagues on notice.

One of the Best Games I Have Ever Watched

Last night’s thrilling contest between the United States and Canada perfectly exemplifies why the 4 Nations works.

Unlike other All-Star games that are soft and friendly, this was not. There were three fights in the first nine seconds of the game. The Tkachuck brothers turned into the Bash Brothers. Matthew dropped the gloves with Brandon Hagel off the opening draw. Brother Brady got into a tilt with Matthew’s NHL teammate, Sam Bennett, leading to arguably the greatest high-five in recent American history.

Play started for real this time, but it did not take long for J.T. Miller to get into it with Colton Parayko. Miller got rag-dolled, but getting into a bout with someone almost half a foot bigger than him showed guts. Both squads came out with heart and showed that this would not be some Charmin Ultra Soft exhibition.

What About the Actual Game?

The fights were sick–the tone was set for the entire night and did not disappoint.

America came out with a 3-1 win, led by great nights from Jake Guentzel (2G) and Dylan Larkin (1g 1A). The game in itself was phenomenal. It is the prime example of what a best-on-best competition should be.

Greatness was all over the ice Saturday night. Connor McDavid’s game-opening score was an example of how and why he is the best active player in the league. The burst of speed, the puck control, the beautiful shot–McDavid is just extraordinary. Keeping it on Canada: I could watch their top power play for hours. Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, AND McDavid on the ice at once. I don’t think I could ever get bored of it. The only weakness for Canada is their goaltending, which showed Saturday night.

America’s goals were neither flashy nor a showcase of tremendous skill. Instead, they showed how good things happen when you get pucks on net. USA’s dominance came on the forecheck. For most of the game, Canada was suffocated by the American forecheck. Like what Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski said, the speed and intensity that both Mike Sullivan and John Tortorella bring in their forechecking schemes meshed well together and wrecked the Canadian offensive attack.

It was a historic night for the Americans. For the first time since the 2010 Olympic group stage, America beat Canada in best-on-best hockey. Team USA also snapped Sidney Crosby’s 26-game win streak in a Canadian sweater.

The 4 Nations Face-Off has been Fantastic

While the USA vs. Canada is certainly the tournament’s highlight so far, the whole thing has been spectacular. There has really only been one bad game.

Sweden took Canada to overtime on opening night, followed by the USA’s dominance over Finland in the second. Saturday was the first doubleheader. It opened with another overtime game, as Finland and Sweden went into an extra frame, with Mikael Granlund netting the dagger as Finland got their first tournament win.

America clinched a spot in the championship in Boston with its second regulation win. Finlands’ OT win and Canada’s loss created a three-way tie with two points each heading into the last day of round-robin play. Anyone has a chance to take on the Americans in the final. Despite my doubts leading into the tournament, the 4 Nations Face-Off has exceeded far past my expectations.

Could Other Leagues Replicate This?

The opportunity to represent your country brings a passion seemingly missing from these other All-Star events. It creates a better fan environment and injects energy into the players.

Sadly, leagues like the NFL and NBA do not have the international talent to pull off an event like this. The NBA could maybe do a USA vs. World like they used to for the Rising Stars game, but I still don’t see that being played as hard. I still haven’t thought of anything that the NFL could do.

I then look at the MLB, which already has a “best-on-best” international competition in the World Baseball Classic. Humor me for a minute here, and imagine this. A 4 Nation’s Face-Off set-up. It is a round-robin tournament between four teams: the USA, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Japan. I really hope that Rob Manfred is watching the 4 Nations Face-Off and has that same thought. It would be an electric factory if it could be anything like the 4 Nations.