Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube predicts a close contest in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game on Thursday night in Boston.
Regardless of the outcome, Berube anticipates a tight battle between Canada and the United States.
“I expect it to be a close game,” Berube said Thursday after the Leafs’ optional practice at the Ford Performance Centre. “You’d think so, but you never know.
“Everyone assumed the Super Bowl would be a tight game, yet it wasn’t, with Philadelphia beating Kansas City 40-22. That’s why we play the games.”
For Leafs Nation, the key storyline is the showdown between Leafs captain Auston Matthews and his regular right winger, Mitch Marner. Neither has experienced anything of this magnitude in their NHL careers—unfortunately, a reminder of that fact.
One player will return on a high, while the other will likely channel the disappointment into motivation for the Leafs’ final 27 games of the 2024-25 regular season.
Will it feel strange for the Leafs to watch Matthews, the U.S. captain, and Marner face off?
“Not really,” defenseman Chris Tanev said. “I don’t think so. Honestly, they’re probably excited about it. It’ll be a great test for both teams.”
During the break, Tanev, Jake McCabe, and Morgan Rielly vacationed together with their families, and the three Leafs watched last Saturday’s Canada-U.S. game, which the Americans won 3-1.
“That first 10 seconds of the last game, when there were three fights, was what everyone was talking about—it’s great stuff,” McCabe said. “It’s the classic U.S.-Canada rivalry.”
McCabe also shared a lighthearted moment from Thursday morning. “I dropped my daughter off at school, and some kids were wearing Canadian jerseys. I should have put a USA jersey on her. It’s fun to be part of, and you can feel the excitement around it.”
McCabe, who captained the U.S. world junior team to a gold medal in 2013 in Ufa, Russia, appreciates the tournament’s growing visibility in the U.S.
“Hockey has been a major talking point in the States, and the tournament’s success has been great to see,” said McCabe, a native of Eau Claire, Wis. “As players, we’ve been saying for a while that the best way to grow the sport is through the Olympics, showcasing the top talent in a best-on-best format.”
He also praised those competing in the event. “I have a lot of respect for the guys playing in this tournament. Meanwhile, I was sitting on the beach last week, and they were grinding it out.
“The best players in the world are giving it their all and showing incredible pride for their countries. It has been amazing to watch.”
Tanev, a Toronto native, shared a similar sentiment.
“The Canada-U.S. game was incredible—probably the best game I’ve watched in a long time, in any sport, not just hockey,” Tanev said. “A lot of people are talking about it, which is great for the game.”
Berube was impressed with the performance of Canada’s line featuring Anthony Cirelli centering Mitch Marner and Brandon Hagel in Monday’s win over Finland.
“They all put in the work,” Berube said. “They’re strong defensively, they check well, and they generate chances through their effort.”
As for Canada’s goaltending, Berube is confident Jordan Binnington can deliver the necessary saves to secure a win on Thursday night. He knows Binnington’s ability firsthand, having coached him during the St. Louis Blues’ 2019 Stanley Cup run, where he posted a .914 save percentage over 26 playoff games.
“He has always been a big-game goalie, at least for us when I was there,” Berube said. “That playoff run—Game 5 in Winnipeg, Game 7 at home against Dallas, and Game 7 in Boston to win the Cup—he stepped up every time.
“He has played well in this tournament. Goals will go in, but he has made key saves at critical moments for Canada.”