BOSTON (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon netted two goals, while Connor McDavid contributed one goal and an assist. Sidney Crosby sealed the game with an empty-net goal from center ice after Finland made a late-game surge, cutting a four-goal deficit to just one in the final minutes.

The Canadian squad showcased their top talent during the 4 Nations Face-Off on Monday, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch against the United States following their earlier, intense bout. The two rivals are set to clash in the tournament final.

“It’s essential to have standout performances from star players,” Crosby remarked after Canada’s 5-3 win over Finland. “These athletes thrive under pressure in significant games, and they delivered once again tonight.”

Canada and the United States will face off on Thursday night, continuing the rivalry after their round-robin matchup in Montreal last week, which was marked by three fights and a 3-1 victory for the Americans. Canadian forward and Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand will be competing against former teammates at TD Garden, a venue where fans were asked to refrain from booing the opponents’ national anthem.

“We’re definitely eager for another opportunity against these guys. It’s going to be an incredibly intense game,” Marchand expressed in the visitor’s locker room, just down the hall from his usual spot after 16 seasons.

“There’s no greater rivalry in hockey than the Canada-U.S. matchup, and I believe this is the contest everyone anticipated,” he added. “We’re all looking forward to an exceptionally intense game.”

Jordan Binnington made 23 saves for Canada on the very same ice where he helped secure the 2019 Stanley Cup for the St. Louis Blues. Brayden Point also scored, and Sam Reinhart recorded three assists as Canada jumped out to a 4-0 lead within the first 25 minutes.

This tournament signifies the NHL’s return to international competition, having skipped the 2018 and 2022 Olympics. Last week saw a fiery U.S.-Canada match against a backdrop of tense real-world relations, exacerbated by rhetoric from President Donald Trump regarding tariffs and proposals to incorporate Canada as the 51st state.

The United States lost to Sweden 2-1 on Monday, a game that lost relevance once Canada secured their place in the final. The Americans had triumphed in both previous round-robin games, clinching the top spot in their pool.

Monday’s encounter began with a subdued atmosphere, marked by mild booing during the Canadian national anthem. The game’s intensity resembled a midseason NHL match featuring teams with interim coaches.

Then, the Finnish team found their stride. Esa Lindell scored with seven minutes remaining to bring the score to 4-1, and Mikael Granlund added two goals in the last 100 seconds with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker. Crosby ultimately ended the suspense by depositing a loose puck into the empty net from center ice.

“We got a couple of late goals and came close, but it wasn’t our day,” Finnish forward Aleksander Barkov acknowledged. “Clearly, overcoming a 4-0 deficit against one of the best teams in the world is a tall order. Nonetheless, we did well at the end. We could have performed better during the first 50 minutes.”

McDavid began the scoring just four minutes into the game, with MacKinnon quickly following to make it 2-0 less than a minute later. Before five minutes had passed, Finland used their timeout in an attempt to regain composure.

Point extended the lead to 3-0 late in the first period, followed by MacKinnon scoring again five minutes into the second period to make it 4-0. That prompted a change in Finnish goaltenders after Kevin Lankinen stopped five of nine shots. Juuse Saros entered and made 14 saves for the remainder of the game.

Binnington started strong, thwarting Finland’s first 19 shots before Lindell finally scored, ending his bid for a shutout. With Saros pulled for an extra attacker, Granlund struck twice, narrowing the gap to 4-3.

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