The 4-Nations Face-Off 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting hockey tournaments in recent years. From February 12 to February 20, top NHL stars will be competing in this highly anticipated competition, showcasing some of the world’s most talented players. The tournament will feature four powerhouse national teams: Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States, and promises fierce rivalries, elite-level competition, and intense action. Here’s everything you need to know about the 4-Nations Face-Off 2025.
4-Nations Face-Off Format and Rules
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The 4-Nations Face-Off 2025 will follow a round-robin structure, where each team will play three matches. The two teams with the highest points at the end of the round-robin will face off in a winner-takes-all championship game. Teams earn points based on the following:
- 3 points for a regulation win
- 2 points for a win in overtime or a shootout
- 1 point for a loss in overtime or a shootout
- 0 points for a loss in regulation
Overtime Rules:
- During the round-robin, overtime will consist of a 10-minute 3-on-3 sudden death session. If still tied, a shootout of three rounds will occur.
- For the championship game, overtime will follow a more traditional 5-on-5 format, with consecutive 20-minute intervals.
Why Only 4 Nations?
You might wonder why only four teams are participating in this event. The answer is largely due to practicality. The NHL is organizing the 4-Nations tournament independently, without the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), which also governs Olympic participation. The NHL selected Canada, the USA, Sweden, and Finland as the four countries for this tournament because these teams have the largest pool of NHL stars available. Teams like Germany or the Czech Republic, despite having some NHL representation, were not included due to roster limitations.
Additionally, a Russian team will not be participating due to the ongoing geopolitical situation. In the future, if the tournament expands, we may see more nations involved.
4-Nations Face-Off 2025: Schedule and Venues
The tournament will be held in two iconic North American cities: Montreal and Boston. Games will take place at Bell Centre in Montreal and TD Garden in Boston, two of the Original Six cities in the NHL. This setup will allow fans in both cities to witness the intense action up close.
Round-Robin Games (all times ET):
- Wednesday, February 12: Canada vs. Sweden at 8 p.m.
- Thursday, February 13: USA vs. Finland at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, February 15: Finland vs. Sweden at 1 p.m.
- Saturday, February 15: USA vs. Canada at 8 p.m.
Games at TD Garden:
- Monday, February 17: Canada vs. Finland at 1 p.m.
- Monday, February 17: Sweden vs. USA at 8 p.m.
- Thursday, February 20: Championship Game at 8 p.m.
Previous Editions of the 4-Nations Face-Off
The 4-Nations Face-Off is not a new tournament. It began in 1996, with subsequent editions in 2004 and 2016. The 2016 tournament featured eight teams, including Canada, Czechia, Finland, Russia, Sweden, the USA, Team Europe (a combination of countries like Germany and Switzerland), and Team North America (players under 24 from Canada and the USA). That year, Canada claimed victory in a best-of-three series against Team Europe.
Prize Money and Compensation
As with many prestigious tournaments, the 4-Nations Face-Off will offer prize money for the winning team, though specific figures have yet to be announced. The NHL and NHLPA will handle the financial aspects, similar to the World Cup of Hockey. Players will receive a share of the earnings, with a portion going to NHLPA members. In previous tournaments, players received 70% of the revenue generated, while the remaining 30% went to players who didn’t participate.
4-Nations Face-Off 2025: Complete Team Rosters
The complete rosters for the 4-Nations Face-Off 2025 are packed with NHL stars, each ready to represent their country in this high-stakes competition.
Team Canada:
- Forwards: Zach Hyman, Connor McDavid*, Nathan MacKinnon*, Mitch Marner, Sidney Crosby*, Travis Konecny, Connor Bedard, and more.
- Defensemen: Cale Makar, Josh Morrissey, Alex Pietrangelo, and more.
- Goaltenders: Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, Logan Thompson.
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Team Finland:
- Forwards: Aleksander Barkov*, Mikko Rantanen*, Sebastian Aho*, Patrik Laine, and more.
- Defensemen: Miro Heiskanen*, Esa Lindell*, Rasmus Ristolainen, and more.
- Goaltenders: Juuse Saros*, Kevin Lankinen, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Team Sweden:
- Forwards: Filip Forsberg*, Elias Pettersson, William Nylander*, Mika Zibanejad*, and more.
- Defensemen: Victor Hedman*, Rasmus Dahlin, Erik Karlsson*, and more.
- Goaltenders: Linus Ullmark, Jacob Markstrom, Filip Gustavsson.
Team USA:
- Forwards: Auston Matthews*, Matthew Tkachuk*, Dylan Larkin, Jack Hughes, and more.
- Defensemen: Quinn Hughes*, Charlie McAvoy*, Adam Fox*, and more.
- Goaltenders: Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman.
Conclusion: Why You Can’t Miss the 4-Nations Face-Off 2025
The 4-Nations Face-Off 2025 is set to deliver high-paced, high-stakes hockey with some of the best players on the planet. From the thrilling round-robin matchups to the intense final showdown, this event promises to be a highlight of the hockey calendar. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the sport, this is one tournament you won’t want to miss. So mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable hockey experience!