Boston Globe/Getty Images

NHL Releases TV Ratings For 4 Nations Face-Off Championship

Originally posted on The Spun | By Hunter Hodies | Last updated Feb 21, 2025 5:09 PM ET

Thursday's 4 Nations Face-Off title game between the United States and Canada more than lived up to the hype.

The two teams traded punches in all three periods, leading to a tied 2-2 game heading into overtime. Canada star forward Nathan MacKinnon scored the game's first goal before USA forward Brady Tkachuk later tied in the first period.

The two teams then traded goals in the second period, with defenseman Jake Sanderson scoring for Team USA and forward Sam Bennett for Team Canada. Nobody scored in the third period, setting the stage for a dramatic sudden-death overtime.

USA forward Auston Matthews had two glorious chances to start overtime, including one from in tight, but Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington robbed him both times.

Those saves paved the way for Canada superstar Connor McDavid to pot the game-winning goal, giving Canada the win. Mitch Marner found McDavid all alone in front and he made no mistake.

It was a tremendous game and it delivered some incredible ratings. ESPN averaged 9.252 million viewers during the game, making it the most-watched non-Olympic hockey contest on record.

Across the U.S. and Canada, 16.1 million viewers tuned in for the game.

Note: For those needing clarification, it is the most-watched non-Olympic hockey game on record in the United States.
— Braylon Breeze (@Braylon_Breeze) February 21, 2025

These are massive numbers for the NHL and saw more casual hockey fans watching than usual.

This was the first international hockey best-on-best tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and it more than delivered. The players played their butts off for their countries, leading to a great championship game between the U.S. and Canada.

The NHL will try to ride this momentum for the rest of the 2024-25 season and into next season when the NHL players return to the Winter Olympics in Italy.

It will be the first time that NHL players get to play in the Olympics since 2014.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: