Canada, U.S. drop the gloves in fight-filled start to 4 Nations matchup in Montreal
Canada’s game against the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off started with plenty of fireworks Saturday.
After the Bell Centre crowd once again lustily booed the American national anthem before puck drop in Montreal, Canadian forward Brandon Hagel and U.S. counterpart Matthew Tkachuk fought two seconds into the first period.
Canada’s Sam Bennett and Brady Tkachuk of the U.S. then dropped the gloves off the ensuing faceoff.
The teams then played six seconds before Canadian defenceman Colton Parayko fought U.S. winger J.T. Miller to more raucous approval inside the crackling rink.
WATCH l 3 fights in 9 seconds to open U.S.-Canada game:
American Matthew Tkachuk squared off with Brandon Hagel right after the opening faceoff. Brother Brady Tkachuck then fought Sam Bennett. Seconds after play resumed, J.T. Miller and Canadian Colton Parayko dropped the gloves.
Canada went on the power play after Miller also got a penalty for cross-checking, but the Americans killed off the man advantage.
A number of fans also booed the U.S. anthem Thursday night when the Americans played Finland, continuing a trend from NHL games in Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver after President Donald Trump announced potentially crippling tariffs and continues to muse about Canada becoming a 51st state.
WATCH l American anthem booed ahead of U.S.-Canada game:
Despite being asked by the Bell Centre PA announcer to respect the anthem, fans in Montreal booed loudly throughout The Star-Spangled Banner.
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