NHL games really bring the thrill of hockey to the fans. But things get even more interesting in the sports world when it becomes an international bout between two teams. So, we’re talking about the games that happen on an international stage. Remember the 4 Nations Face-Off? Even though it faced a lot of criticism before it launched, the narrative changed completely once the games actually took place. In the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off, Canada took down the United States, and it was quite the spectacle, drawing in 16.1 million viewers across North America.
So, there were 9.3 million viewers tuning in from the U.S. on ESPN, and in Canada, that number was 6.3 million. The game turned out to be the second-most watched hockey game in North America over the last ten years. So, this was a big deal for hockey, right? It really ramped up the rivalry between the U.S. and Canada, especially with all the political tensions they were facing back then. And guess what?
The rivalry is still going strong. So, there’s some not-so-great news for the Canadian supporters lately. On X, Chris Johnston reported: “Denmark eliminates Canada from the IIHF World Hockey Championship with a 2-1 win in the quarterfinals — one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.” This is really big for the American fans who have been looking for some payback since the 4 Nations Face-Off finals.
In an exciting quarterfinal showdown at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, co-hosts Denmark pulled off a surprising upset against tournament favorites Canada, winning 2-1 and making history for Danish ice hockey. The game in Herning, Denmark, was quite the spectacle, with the underdog Danes making a thrilling comeback in the final minutes to clinch their first-ever semifinal spot in the tournament’s history.
Denmark eliminates Canada from the IIHF World Hockey Championship with a 2-1 win in the quarterfinals — one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 22, 2025
Canada really took control of the match, outshooting Denmark 40 to 33, and they finally broke the scoreless tie with a goal from Travis Sanheim early in the third period. But Denmark really showed their strength when Nikolaj Ehlers scored the equalizer with just over two minutes left on the clock. It all came down to that crucial moment when Nick Olesen took advantage of a rebound and netted the game-winning goal with just 49 seconds to go.
As if seeing their rivals fall apart on the international stage wasn’t enough to bring joy to American fans, there was even more to celebrate. So, Team USA actually made it to the semifinals in that tournament by beating Team Finland 5-2. How have American fans been reacting online to Team Canada’s historic defeat?
Canada’s defeat becomes a treat for American fans
The hockey rivalry between Canada and the USA is super intense and has a rich history in international sports. It’s filled with years of tough competition, national pride, and some unforgettable moments at all levels—men’s, women’s, and junior. So, both fans definitely keep an eye on how their competitors are doing. One fan said, “Canada SUCKS.” It seems like a lot of people were just as shocked, saying things like, “lol, lmao even.”
One fan couldn’t help but poke fun at Team Canada’s win in the 4 Nations Face-Off Final, saying, “Hahahahahahahah 4 nations was their Super Bowl.” And there’s even more for the American fans to cheer about. Team USA pulled off an impressive 5-2 win against Finland, sending them into the semifinals and knocking out the 2022 champions.
Even though Finland got off to a strong start with a 2-1 lead thanks to power-play goals from Eeli Tolvanen and Patrick Puistola, the Americans came back with four goals in a row. Conor Garland really stepped up, scoring two goals—one to tie it and another with a perfect deflection to take the lead. Zeev Buium, Shane Pinto, and an empty-netter from Clayton Keller all contributed goals that helped the U.S. secure the win. A fan pointed out, “This was insane, an absolute collapse from Hockey Canada. The US handled Finland and advanced to the semi’s if you were wondering how the boys in the red white and blue did.”
While roasting Team Canada, another fan chimed in with, “Canada is so f***ing bad at hockey.” As the tournament approached, everyone had their eyes on Team Canada as a top contender. So, this knockout game loss was definitely a big surprise. Now, everyone is looking forward to Team USA and their performance in the semifinals against Team Sweden.
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