It seems like it was every year from like 2005-2014.
A decade of ringing in the new year with the best rivalry in hockey.
The last time USA and Canada played head-to-head was in the 2023 semifinals.
We can forget that game ever happened, but Canada waxed the Americans 6-2.
This year’s matchup has everything that you could want out of a classic USA vs Canada matchup.
For starters, these teams are playing for the top seed coming out of Group A.
Both teams come into tonight with 2 wins and a loss in overtime.
The US lost to Finland in overtime on Sunday afternoon.
Canada lost in a shootout to Latvia for the first time in tournament history a few nights before that.
Hagens is one of the top point scorers in the tournament so far.
He has 2 goals and 4 assists in USA’s first 3 games.
So you have the top pick in each of the next 2 drafts.
You have Canada on home ice trying to make everybody forget about their embarrassing loss to Latvia.
It’s New Years Eve in Ottawa and we’ve got a great game on our hands.
So without further ado, let’s fire up the Live Blog for the first time this tournament.
Also you’re free to just follow along on Twitter@JordieBarstool.
It’s as simple as that.
It’s been that way for quite some time in this tournament.
Tonight was no exception.
John Carlson had the biggest of them all in the 2010 gold medal game 15 years ago.
Tonight, Cole Hutson gets to join that list.
Great pinch, great snipe, even better celly.
The rest of the period looked like it was mostly leaning Canada’s way.
Whoever can stay out of the box is most likely going to win this game.
But it seems like the box is going to be pretty full all night between these two teams.
No love lost, and you sure as shit love to see it.
Does it get any better than USA vs Canada on New Years Eve?
40 minutes to go.
End of 2nd Period: USA 1 – Canada 0
No goals scored in the 2nd period.
He came up huge at least 4 or 5 times that period.
But Canada keeps taking penalties, and playing right into USA’s hands.
They took 3 penalties that period, so any momentum they would have gotten 5v5 is cancelled out.
With that said…Canada starts the 3rd period on the powerplay.
20 minutes to go.
Time to lock in.
These two teams have been as tight as they could possibly be over the last 15-20 years.
So as far as 5v5 hockey goes, it was always going to be a wash. Well that was their time to make this game interesting.
But there was still 18 minutes left in the 3rd period.
Still plenty of time for Team Canada to take a few more penalties.
Which they did 4 more times in the 3rd period.
11 penalties on the night for Team Canada.
Maybe the most undisciplined game we’ve ever seen out of this group.
Danny Nelson has been delivering non-stop this tournament.
Every time you need someone to step up, Danny Nelson seems to be the guy.
He’s a “checking forward” by trade, but this kid was born for the moment.
Maple Grove product out of Minnesota.
He’s played equally as big of games as a 14-year-old.
And I just don’t know how many times I need to say it.
If you take a penalty against Team USA, you die.
Those are simply just the rules.
Big night for a pair of Islanders prospects.
Probably on account of the 11 penalties they took throughout the night, if you ask me.
It was a game that Canada just looked wildly unprepared for.
Like the moment was way too big for them.
Another convincing win for USA Hockey over Hockey Canada.
And now Team USA heads into the medal rounds as the top seed out of Group A.
They’ll get to start their gold medal defense against Switzerland in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Good fight, good night Canada.
What a win for the boys.
