While the San Jose Sharks are not in action, coverage will shift as I give my thoughts on the Four Nations Face-Off Tournament.

While the San Jose Sharks are not in action, coverage will shift as I give my thoughts on the Four Nations Face-Off Tournament.

Wednesday's opening night game between Canada and Sweden couldn't have improved for the NHL, with Canada winning 4-3 in overtime.

The NHL's best players are all in Montreal and certainly put on a show. Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid told reporters after the game that this tournament isn't an All-Star game.

In what looked like an overpowering performance for Team Canada in the first period, Sweden proved some doubters wrong by battling back from two goals down, twice, and pushed the game to OT.

The 3-2-1-0 point system will be a key factor throughout the tournament. Canada received two points with the OT win, and Sweden received one.

Creating a 3-2-1-0 point system would interest me for the NHL. It will force teams to push harder at the end of regulation and finish a game in overtime. I think lowering shootout win and loss points would also need to happen to make it even more high stakes.

A regulation win for Team USA on Thursday night against Finland puts them in the driver's seat to be the home team in the championship game.

Every 4 Nations game is played with NHL rules, meaning the home team gets last change. In a tournament with best-on-best, on-ice matchups become even more critical.

Sweden was technically the home team in last night's matchup, and after the first period, that seemed to give them some advantage.

Team USA will face a depleted Team Finland team suffering from many injuries on defense. 

USA Hockey isn't the healthiest either, as Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes will miss the tournament with an injury. Hughes is the reigning Norris Trophy winner and has dominated play to the point of being in the Hart Trophy conversation. 

Former San Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund will be an alternate captain for Finland. Most players in the Sharks locker room are rooting for their home nation and for Granlund to have a successful tournament. 

Tonight's game will air on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

If Team USA vs. Team Finland is anything like Wednesday's, one can only imagine an expanded tournament at the 2026 Olympic Games.

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