MONTREAL — Team USA heard “The Star-Spangled Banner” booed inside Bell Centre before its opening game at the 4 Nations Face-Off, raising tensions ahead of a matchup against the host Canadians on Saturday night. “I didn’t like it,” American forward Matthew Tkachuk said after Thursday’s 6-1 win over Finland. “And that’s all I’ve got.”

The 2025 4 Nations Face-Off is officially here! In lieu of the NHL All-Star Game, the league has pulled the top players from four countries for a week-long tournament to determine the best of the best. Ahead of the proceedings, check out our breakdown of the 4 Nations Face-Off schedule along with our explainer of the whole tournament.

As the “The Star-Spangled Banner” played, many in the Bell Centre crowd booed loudly, despite a pre-anthem plea to show respect.