'Feeling a little nervous': hockey world boiling about Canada-USA game today

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Tonight Team Canada faces Team USA in Montreal in the Four Nations Face-off, and social media is already boiling about the game itself, with the two best teams in the world playing, and about political tensions between the two countries over the  proposed Trump tariffs.

Here’s some of the reaction on-line about the game, the national anthem controversy, line-up changes, and roster decisions:

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet:
This is one of those days.
You know the ones. We jump out of bed, saying, “This is what I signed up for.” Feeding off a city’s energy and electricity. Trying to attack every minute with the best you’ve got. 
Rivalry Saturday. Finland-Sweden, followed by Canada-USA. You don’t need to be a hockey fan…just a lover of sports. Or a Canadian, an American, a Finn, or a Swede. 

TSN’s Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Is this the first time in Team USA’s history that their roster is better than Canada’s? h

The New York Times @nytimes
Team USA heard “The Star-Spangled Banner” booed before its opening game at the 4 Nations Face-Off, despite the announcer urging fans to be respectful. The crowd’s negative reaction stirred a range of emotions in the American players.

Canadian sports commentator Paul Bissonnette @BizNasty2point0
Feeling a little nervous. Talked to Kevin Bieksa last night and he mentioned this being a game you may have wanted Tom Wilson on the roster. Feel it was a big opportunity to balance the mutants out. USA has some mutants. I think things will get ugly tonight. USA is going to try and pound Canada into the ground. Pietrangelo also a gut punching loss. He’s a mutant. And can handle Tkachuck’s.

Hall of Fame d-man Chris Pronger @chrispronger
Canada has the edge on USA in high end skill. But USA brought the dogs to this tournament. Assuming the back end for Canada can stay healthy ie. Makar I think they win a close one. If not the USA will grind on them and make them pay a price, wear them down and win it in the 3rd.

Hockey News writer Ryan Kennedy @THNRyanKennedy
I asked Sam Bennett on media day if he would fight Matthew Tkachuk and he said he hadn’t thought about it, but also that he would do whatever it took to win here. So…

Hockey columnist Larry Brooks, the New York Post:
The U.S. has 1980 and Miracle on Ice. Canada has No. 87 and Mythical on Ice. This is the most rarefied status to which Sidney Crosby has climbed. “Crosby! Crosby! Crosby!” the adoring audience at Bell chanted when the center climbed over the boards just about 5:30 into overtime of Canada’s 4 Nations opener on Wednesday against Sweden.

Team Canada d-man Drew Doughty to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic
The rivalry is real. The rivalry with the United States was developed from when I was 8 years old because you start going to play tournaments in Michigan and places around the U.S. and immediately you’re kind of taught, ‘Don’t lose to the Americans.’ So that rivalry goes back far. It doesn’t stop. Even at 35, I want to beat them more than anyone.

TSN and The Athletic hockey writer Chris Johnston
Before the Americans faced Finland on Thursday night, Bell Centre public address announcer Michel Lacroix urged fans to be respectful of the national anthems to uphold the spirit of the competition. Still, a significant number of fans audibly booed — cameras showed Matthew Tkachuk fuming at the end of his team’s bench while it happened — before some others in the crowd attempted to drown them out with cheers.

Canadian hockey podcaster EckhartsLadder @EckhartsLadder
Aside from the ethics of booing, I do wonder: Do Americans care? I get the feeling they don’t. Like, I know they’re ultra-patriotic and what not, but do they give a sh*t if Canadians boo their anthem? Surely they know they deserve it lmao. I don’t think they care what we think

Sportswriter for The Athletic Dan Robson @RobsonDan
Booing an anthem might seem petty or disrespectful — but everyone knows what it’s really about. Whether we like it or not, tonight’s game between the U.S. and Canada embodies greater tensions. 

Ottawa hockey commentator Alex Adam @alexadamsBTP_
Booing the anthem is about the genuine feelings people have towards the U.S. wanting to annex Canada. They don’t like it. There wouldn’t a game tonight or a hockey rivalry between Canada/U.S. if Canada wasn’t a country anymore.

Canadian General Rick Hillier @GeneralHillier
I’d love to see the Canadian team go, all of them, and stand shoulder to shoulder with the US team as soon as the Star Spangled Banner starts at the Four Nation Game on Saturday night. Be classy .

Globe & Mail columnist Andrew Coyne @acoyne (in response to Hillier)
Kinda think it might be more fitting for the US team to go stand shoulder to shoulder with the Canadians, under the circumstances. That, I’d cheer.

International hockey commentator Szymon Szemberg @Sz1909_Szemberg
How can so much be made from booing an anthem? We know why Canadians boo the anthem, which they normally don’t. If the Finnish president threatened to annex Sweden, Swedes would boo the Finnish anthem too. And vice versa.

Edmonton hockey writer Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug
Makar on the ice this morning.

Sportsnet’s Friedman
Cale Makar is a game-time decision. Thomas Harley is here, but did not step on the ice while Makar skated — as per the current rules

Daily Faceoff hockey writer Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
Thomas Harley is a standby in Montréal for Team Canada, one of seven defensemen. Roster rules originally stated teams must dip below minimum six before replacement could be summoned.

Sportsnet commentator Justin Bourne @jtbourne
The Thomas Harley thing is interesting. Likely already saw other contenders for the spot leave the country for vacation (guys like Tanev, Weegar, Montour), and maybe a young guy they see as an option for Olympics. Still, a surprising name given who was brought up pre-tournament.

Hall of Fame player Chris Pronger @chrispronger
I disagree @jtbourne This kid has really come into his own down in Dallas. Defends really well, has a good stick, makes a really good 1st pass and is mobile. Jim Nill obviously knows him well so I don’t think this selection is off the board.

Cult of Hockey writer David Staples @dstaples·
Marner wjth McDavid. Big mistake? I never got why coach put McDavid and Marner together. Both need the puck. And both need a linemate who will go to the net and corners. First game: no surprise, no chemistry

Hockey Night in Canada host David Amber @DavidAmber
Based on how physical the US team was vs Finland, wonder if Canada will miss not having Tom Wilson at their disposal?

ESPN commentator  Rachel Doerrie @racheldoerrie
Canadians are right to be angry with how Trump is treating their nation and showing their displeasure through booing their anthem at a sporting event is about the tamest thing they can do to voice their unified displeasure. Attacking a state’s sovereignty is beyond the pale.

What Chaos hockey podcaster Pete Blackburn @PeteBlackburn (based in Boston, USA)
Politics completely aside, I have absolutely no problem with anthems being booed. You hate me, I hate you. It juices the rivalry and I’m all for it. 

Hockey commentator Paul Bissonnette @BizNasty
My good buddy Whit (American commenator and former Oiler Ryan Whitney) but (Saturday) I’m not speaking a word to him. We’re not losing on Canadian  soil. No more tummysticks. Canada 5-2. McJesus will rise…The buzz in Montreal right now for Saturday’s Canada Vs. USA game is unbelievable. All of a sudden it’s about more than hockey. It’s going to be an all out battle. Even if you’re not a hockey fan you’re a fool if you’re not watching that game.

Toronto hockey commentator David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
Seems like Cale Makar isn’t the only player at 4 Nations dealing with an illness. Sounds like something may be going around and some players on all countries are taking precautions – they don’t want to risk missing any action.

Elite hockey content producer Cam Robinson @Hockey_Robinson
Texting with an American player who asked to remain anonymous. I asked how he felt about the US anthem being booed. “Don’t love it. Makes you kind of cringe to see that.” I then asked what he thought of the continued threats of annexation and the President calling the Canadian PM “Governor” “Yeah, when you look it at from that side, I wouldn’t like another country threatening to swallow up mine (country). Especially one as big as the US. Would probably do more than boo an anthem…”

Bruce Garrioch, The Ottawa Citizen
The stage is set for a cross-border battle for the ages on Hockey Night in Canada… Judging by the skate in Brossard on Friday, Sam Bennett will play against the States and Philly’s Travis Konecny will be scratched. Cooper also tweaked his bottom-six by skating Marchand and Bennett with Seth Jarvis.
That group will bring an edge and Canada will need it. That could be a response to the American line of Brady and Matthew Tkachuk skating with Jack Eichel because they caused chaos against Finland.

Montreal hockey website Habs Chronicle @HabsChronicle
Edmonton Oilers fans don’t know how spoiled they are to watch McDavid every night. He’d be a God in this city.

MoneyPuck.com @MoneyPuckdotcom
Isn’t there already one country that was excluded from this tournament because they tried to annex another country?

Colorado hockey fan Avalanche Forever @citchmook
I cannot believe the way Oilers fans are acting, their insecurities about McDavid and jealousy of MacKinnon are bare for all to see. Instead of enjoying an all-time roster and fun overtime victory, they are upset their guy didn’t get the same looks Nate did. It is embarrassing.

Cult of Hockey writer Bruce McCurdy @BruceMcCurdy
(MacKinnon) literally made 0 passes in OT. 4 end to end rushes, & 1 in zone rush & shot after McDavid passed it to him. Never passed the puck even once. Surprising for the NHL assist leader.

Ken Campbell, the Hockey News
When you total up the cap hits of all the NHL players participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off, it comes out to substantially more than half a billion dollars, $609.6 million to be exact.
Suffice it to say none of the four teams would be cap compliant in the NHL this season. To nobody’s surprise, pre-tournament favorite USA comes in with the highest combined cap hit at $177.9 million. Canada is a close second at just over $174 million. 

Cult of Hockey writer Kurt Leavins @KurtLeavins
Re: Booing U.S. anthem at games. I agree players are not the cause of the political situation right now. I have some sympathy for them. But here’s the thing: Your President is disrespecting us…daily. What do you expect Canadians to do…just sit here and take it?

Boston hockey writer Jimmy Murphy @MurphysLaw74
To those bashing Canadians who have been booing the US National anthem, your anger should be directed at the moron in the White House who has decided to threaten to take over our neighbor and best ally!

Former NHL coach and GM Doug Maclean
For a lot of these players, this is the biggest game of their lives… It’s Canada vs. US – you know there’s animosity there.

TSN’s Jesse Pollock
My fellow Canadians… We are ALL justifiably frustrated with the tariffs and 51st state threats. But booing a national anthem at a hockey tournament is not who WE are. We are better than this.

Senior writer James Mirtle of the Athletic @mirtle
As recently as 2000, two-thirds of goalies in the NHL were Canadian. This season, that’s down to 25% — and falling fast.

Former NHLer Jordan Schmaltz @J_Swish24
If Matty Tkachuk tucks the first one tomorrow night at the Bell Centre to silence the crowd does he go full Andrew Ference mode and flip off the crowd? Flipping the bird during FREE BIRD would be so nails … Thinking purely from an entertainment business. That would do ratings and showbiz is showbiz…

Winnipeg Jets reporter Jamie Thomas @JamieThomasTV
Josh Morrissey, asked about facing USA tomorrow: “You can’t draw it up any better. Saturday night, Montreal, US – Canada. It’s going to be unreal. I think everyone is absolutely jacked for it.”

TSN reporter Chris Johnston @reporterchris
Brad Marchand, on fans booing the U.S. anthem at Bell Centre last night: “They should not be booing the Americans during that anthem. They have nothing to do with the political things that are going on. I do feel bad for those guys in that moment. I don’t think it’s right.”

Florida hockey writer Alex Baumgartner @ABaumgartner91
Bennett and Marchand together. Canada is going with the chaos line.

Edmonton hockey commentator Terry Jones @byterryjones
Man, the boos will be unbelievable for the U.S. anthem Saturday night in Montreal after Trump’s latest today. If I’m Gary Bettman I’d announce no more anthems and revert to IIHF tradition of the two teams raising sticks to each other and dropping the puck.

Hockey commentator John Shannon @JShannonhl
Four Nations: TV Ratings: Canada: Wednesday on Sportsnet: 2.1 Million for Sweden vs Canada Thursday on Sportsnet: 1.1 Million for Finland vs America.

 USA: Wednesday on TNT: 1.04 Million for Sweden vs Canada Thursday on ESPN: 1.55 Million for Finland vs USA.

TSN’s Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug
(Canadian coach Jon) Cooper says he hopes the fans unite together tonight and cheer both anthems. Wasn’t asked specifically about the anthem, but made a point of bringing it up.

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