Canada Beats Finland, Gets USA Rematch in 4 Nations Final

It did not take Canada long to take control of its 4 Nations Face-Off game against Finland on Monday afternoon in Boston.

Facing a must-win situation to advance to Thursday’s title bout against Team USA, Canada scored three in the first period and survived with a 5-3 win over Finland.

Canada led 4-0 going into the third, but Mikael Granlund scored two goals with an empty net late to make it a game.

The Finland Panthers — Florida had four of its eight players in the 4 Nations Face-Off going for Finland — went 1-2 in the tournament, beating rival Sweden in overtime on Saturday.

With Canada winning in regulation Monday, tonight’s game between Team USA and Sweden has no bearing on the tournament.

Sweden’s Gus Forsling, like his four Finnish teammates, will be heading south sooner than they hoped.

Monday, Canada broke things open early with a pair of goals (Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon) in a span of 46 seconds just before the 5 minute mark.

Brayden Point made it 3-0 with 6:58 left in the opening period.

Vancouver goalie Kevin Lankinen was chased from the net when MacKinnon got his second of the game 5:03 into the second to make it 4-0.

Finland finally broke through at 13:19 of the third on a goal from Esa Lindell.

With 55.3 seconds left in a 4-3 game, Sidney Crosby scored into the empty net to end it.

4 NATIONS GAME NOTES

• Florida captain Sasha Barkov and Anton Lundell each scored a goal in the tournament, tying for second on their team with three other players. Granlund led all Finnish goal scorers with three.
• Sam Reinhart got his first points of the tournament with three assists on Monday.

FHN’S 3 STARS OF THE GAME

• 1. Nathan MacKinnon, Canada
• 2. Connor McDavid, Canada
• 3. Mikael Granlund, Finland

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF SCHEDULE/RESULTS

At Montreal

• Wednesday: Canada 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
• Thursday: United States 6, Finland 1
• Saturday: Finland 4, Sweden 3 OT; United States 3, Canada 1

At Boston Garden

• Today: Canada 5, Finland 3; Sweden vs. United States, 8 p.m. (TNT/truTV, Max)
• Thursday’s Championship: Canada vs. USA, 8 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN+)

Standings

• 1. United States 6 points
• 2. Canada 5
• 3. Finland 2 (eliminated)
• 3. Sweden 2 (eliminated)