New Jersey Devils forward Curtis Lazar only watched one 4 Nations Face-Off tournament game from start to finish: Team USA vs. Team Canada.
The 30-year-old spent the break getting some rest and relaxation in Anguilla with Devils teammates, including Brett Pesce, Tomas Tatar, and Stefan Noesen. Still, he made sure to catch the most highly anticipated matchup.
The first game between the North American rivals did not disappoint. On Feb. 15, the United States defeated Canada 3-1 in front of 21,105 at Bell Centre in Montreal.
"We're so excited to see the best-on-best and to see the buy-in from the guys, the sacrifice, and the willingness to kind of back up their country; it has been outstanding," Lazar said to The Hockey News. "The hockey has been next-level entertaining. I mean, it has had everything, too. I think everyone is expecting quite the game coming up, and it is gonna be fun to watch and see how it plays out."
With NHL players participating in the Olympics in 2026, it did not surprise the Devils forward to see the intensity from the players, saying the guys want to showcase themselves for that next step.
"It is kind of the nature of hockey players," he explained. "You put on your gear and have the opportunity to represent your country; you are going to do whatever it takes to win. You see those fights, guys standing up for their team, for their countries. It is just pure entertainment."
Lazar, a native of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada, did not hesitate to make his prediction for the tournament's must-watch finale.
"Canada is going to win, of course, from the Canadian," he confidently said. "The score will be 5-3, Sidney Crosby with the game-winner. There will be an empty netter to kind of ice it for Canada."
In keeping with his loyalty to his Devils teammates, Lazar predicted that Jack Hughes would score a goal in Team USA's defeat at TD Garden in Boston.
"He is due. He has been flying around doing his thing, and it has been cool to see."
The Final will take place Thursday night at 8:00 P.M. and will be an ESPN broadcast. Fans can tune in on ESPN, ESPN+, Disney+, SN, TVAS.
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