NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 18, 2025
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 18, 2025
Canada defeats Finland while Sweden upsets an injury-battered Team USA in the final round-robin games in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Check out the recaps of Monday’s games and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
4 NATIONS FACE-OFF RECAPS
NHL.COM: Canada held off Finland 5-3 in 4 Nations Face-Off action on Monday at Boston’s TD Garden, setting up a showdown with the United States in the championship game on Thursday.

Team Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon (NHL.com).
Nathan MacKinnon tallied two goals, Sam Reinhart collected three assists, and Connor McDavid, Brayden Point and Sidney Crosby also scored for Canada.
The Canadians rolled to a 3-0 lead in the first period, expanding it to 4-0 in the second period. Finland made it interesting late in the third period as Esa Lindell got them on the board and Mikael Granlund scored twice to cut Canada’s lead to 4-3. However, Crosby put the game away with an empty-netter after a center-ice collision with Granlund led to a turnover.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canada’s biggest stars – McDavid, MacKinnon and Crosby – stepped up as expected in this elimination game. They had more room to create plays in this game than they did against the United States on Saturday. The Canadians also got a boost on the blueline with defenseman Cale Makar returning to action after missing Saturday’s game.
Jordan Binnington made 23 saves as he got the call again as Canada’s starter. He was solid through most of the game but those three late goals have critics again questioning head coach Jon Cooper’s decision to stick with him.
The Canadian national anthem received tepid booing from the TD Garden crowd.
Granlund should be considered the player of the tournament for Finland. He led his club with three goals and an assist for four points, sitting third among the tournament’s leading scorers. Crosby and Team USA’s Zach Werenski are tied for the lead with five points each.
Sweden overcame an early 1-0 deficit to nip the United States 2-1. Chris Kreider opened the scoring for the Americans 35 seconds into the first period but Gustav Nyquist and Jesper Bratt replied for the Swedes, who were playing for pride after being officially eliminated by Canada’s regulation win earlier in the day. Samuel Ersson stopped 32 shots for Sweden while Jake Oettinger made 21 saves for the Americans.
SPORTSNET: Team USA defenseman Charlie McAvoy missed this game after being hospitalized with an upper-body injury, raising doubt over his availability for Thursday’s championship game with Canada. American winger Brady Tkachuk exited the game for precautionary reasons with an apparent leg injury after crashing into the Swedish net.
Brady’s brother Matthew missed this game with a lower-body injury while team captain Auston Matthews was a late scratch with upper-body soreness.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Team USA coach Mike Sullivan said more details about their conditions would be revealed on Tuesday. McAvoy’s injury sounds the more serious while the other three are expected to play against Canada on Thursday.
The Americans clinched their berth in the championship game on Saturday so they did the sensible thing by sitting out Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk. There was no point in potentially aggravating their injuries in a meaningless game.
IN OTHER NEWS…
RG.ORG: Former NHL defenseman Darius Kasparaitis has been working out with Alex Ovechkin in Miami during the 4 Nations Face-Off break. The 39-year-old Washington Capitals captain is preparing for the final stretch of the regular season.
Ovechkin needs 16 goals to break Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894. With his Capitals in first place in the Eastern Conference, he’s also setting his sights on chasing the Stanley Cup this spring.
Kasparaitis said Ovechkin is in a good mood and isn’t concerned about chasing records. “It seems like he does not feel any pressure from the need to break Gretzky’s record, he just plays as he has played his whole life.”
THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks return to practice on Tuesday, which could reveal where defenseman Quinn Hughes (oblique injury) and goaltender Thatcher Demko (left knee) stand with their rehab. They need both players healthy to stage a run for a playoff spot down the stretch.
ROTOWIRE: The Seattle Kraken recalled winger Jordan Eberle (pelvis) from his conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley. He saw no playing time with them and remains on long-term injury reserve.