It took less than nine seconds for fireworks to erupt in Team USA’s 3-1 victory over Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off at Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday night.
Unsurprisingly, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk were at the heart of it.
After dazzling in Thursday’s win over Finland with a combined four goals and five points, the Tkachuk brothers turned up the intensity against Canada. Alongside J.T. Miller, they set the tone immediately, putting their northern rivals on edge from the opening puck drop.
“We needed to send a message,” Matthew Tkachuk said postgame. “Saturday night in Montreal—this was our time. That message started right away.”
The heated hockey rivalry reignited when Matthew squared off against Brandon Hagel just seconds after the opening faceoff, sending the sold-out crowd into a frenzy. The two are familiar foes in the NHL, where Tkachuk plays for the Florida Panthers and Hagel for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
This bout set a record for the fastest fight to start an NHL international game, breaking the previous mark of 20 seconds set in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey when Canada’s Keith Primeau and Claude Lemieux dropped the gloves against Team USA’s Keith Tkachuk (Matthew and Brady’s father) and Bill Guerin. Ironically, Guerin now serves as Team USA’s general manager.
One second after Matthew headed to the penalty box, Brady followed suit, engaging his older brother’s Panthers teammate, Sam Bennett. Matthew pounded the glass in support from the box.
Then, just six seconds later, Miller exchanged blows with Colton Parayko after a net-front battle, earning an additional cross-checking penalty and giving Canada the game’s first power play.
The trio admitted their aggressive start was premeditated.
“There was a little discussion during the day,” Brady Tkachuk revealed, as Matthew egged him on to “tell the truth.”
“Yeah, there was a group chat going on,” Brady continued. “We knew we were going to do it. Matthew’s fight got us going. I was more nervous for my own. Then Millsy capped it off against a big guy—it was awesome.”
It marked the first NHL-sanctioned international tournament fight since the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Miller, like the Tkachuks, relished the moment.
“That was probably the coolest experience I’ve had on the ice,” Miller said. “The energy in that building—I’ll never forget it. There’s bad blood, but also a lot of respect.”
Hagel echoed that sentiment, saying he wouldn’t back down.
“People were saying these guys were going to take over the Canadian way—I wasn’t letting that happen.”
The intensity wasn’t lost on the coaches. Canada’s Jon Cooper described the chaotic start as “mayhem” and credited both teams’ passion. Team USA coach Mike Sullivan saw it as a testament to the tournament’s significance.
“It shows how much this means to the players,” Sullivan said. “Both teams are fiercely competitive and take pride in representing their countries. This was an incredible hockey game.”
The USA-Canada showdown was years in the making, with the NHL’s last “best-on-best” event being the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. This tournament showcases a new generation of stars, from Canada’s Connor McDavid—who scored his team’s lone goal—and Nathan MacKinnon to Team USA’s Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel.
Adding another layer of intensity was the backdrop of recent U.S.-Canada political tensions, including trade disputes and controversial rhetoric about Canadian sovereignty. The tension spilled into the arena as the U.S. national anthem was met with resounding boos, particularly after Olympic figure skating legend Michelle Kwan introduced Team USA’s lineup.
With the win, the U.S. secured a spot in Thursday night’s championship game in Boston.
“Winning on a Saturday night to punch our ticket to the final? That’s special,” Brady Tkachuk told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan postgame. “A lot of unhappy people here, especially in Montreal—not exactly my favorite place.”
As Team USA gears up for the final, one question remains: Will Matthew Tkachuk be ready? The forward played just three third-period shifts and sat out the final 12:36 due to a lower-body injury. Sullivan confirmed he’s being evaluated and wouldn’t commit to Tkachuk playing against Sweden on Monday.
Tkachuk, however, downplayed concerns.
“No worries at all,” he said. “I’m just going to enjoy this win. Other than winning the Stanley Cup last year, this is the highlight of my hockey career.”
