The 4 Nations Face-off is upon us. Here's everything Calgary Flames fans need to know about the tournament.
There will be no NHL hockey for the next two weeks as players travel to Montreal, QC, and Boston, MA, to participate in the first-ever 4 Nations Face-off featuring Canada, Sweden, Finland, and the United States.
What is the 4 Nations Face-off schedule?
Bell Centre - Montreal, QC
TD Garden - Boston, MA
Where Can Fans Watch the Games?
In Canada, fans can catch 4 Nations Face-off games on Sportsnet (SN), Sportsnet+ (SN+), and TVAS. Meanwhile, the games will be available on several networks for American hockey fans, including MAX, truTV, TNT, ESPN+, ESPN, and ABC.
Which Flames Players Were Selected to the Tournament?
Rasmus Andersson (Sweden) is the only member of the Calgary Flames to be selected for the tournament.
According to his Elite Prospects profile, the 28-year-old from Malmö hasn't represented his country since the 2016 World Junior Championship, when he scored four points in four games.
In 55 games this season with the Flames, Andersson has eight goals, 13 assists, and 21 points.
Which Flames Staff Members Were Selected to the Tournament?
If Flames fans needed more reasons to cheer for Team Canada, three staff members, Kent Kobelka (Physiotherapist), Dr. Ian Auld (Team Physician), and Sean Kelso (Media Relations), were selected for the tournament.
Which Former Flames Players Were Selected to the Tournament?
Four former Flames skaters are playing in the tournament, barring any last-minute injuries or roster adjustments. Here's a breakdown.
Matthew Tkachuk (United States) - Like Andersson, Tkachuk has not represented the United States since the World Juniors in 2016, where he had 11 points in seven games. The reigning Stanley Cup champion has 57 points in 52 games, thanks to 22 goals and 35 assists.
Noah Hanifin (United States) - Hanifin departed the Flames last season ahead of the trade deadline. He last skated for the United States at the 2019 World Championships, where he tallied four points in eight games. With the Vegas Golden Knights this season, he has 23 points in 56 games with only six goals and 17 helpers.
Sam Bennett (Canada) - Bennett is a former Flames draft pick who left in 2021 to join the Florida Panthers, winning the Stanley Cup with Tkachuk last season. He has 18 goals and 35 points in 55 games this year. Interestingly, Bennett hasn't played for Canada since 2013, when he had seven points in seven games at the U18 World Junior Championships.
Elias Lindholm (Sweden) - Like Hanifin, Lindholm departed Calgary last season and is now playing with the Boston Bruins. He'll be reunited with Andersson on Team Sweden. Thus far, Lindholm has ten goals and 29 points in 57 games with his new team. He last played for Sweden at the 2019 World Championships with six points in eight games.
Jacob Markström (Sweden)* - Markström was having a Vezina Trophy-caliber season with the New Jersey Devils. Before an injury on Jan. 22, he earned a 21-9-5 record with a .912 SV% and 2.20 GAA. Markström is out for four to six weeks with a lower-body injury. In his place, Sam Ersson (Philadelphia) will play for Sweden.
Who are you rooting for at the 4 Nations Face-off? Let us know in the comments section.
