Fans were patiently waiting for the Vegas Golden Knights stars to collapse. Toronto Maple Leafs fans wanted to see Mitch Marner choke in the biggest moment possible—even if it meant spiting the rest of Canada. Other fans were hoping that Jack Eichel and the Americans would choke because, well, reasons.
Alas, that didn't happen and the Golden Knights Olympians had the last laugh. They moved on to the semifinal round, where they were one step closer to winning a medal. Oh well, at least those Maple Leafs fans have a Stanley Cup they can hang their hats on, right?
Perhaps that's a bad thing since hockey fans saw Sidney Crosby get hurt in Team Canada's quarterfinal game against the Czech Republic. That's especially true for Golden Knights fans, who were already gritting their teeth at the thought of seeing another key player go down to an injury. Nobody wants to see Shea Theodore suffer another wrist injury, you know.
Lost in all of this is the looming death battle between the Americans and the Canadians. These are two countries who've developed an intense hockey rivalry over the years, with Canada usually getting the upper hand. Of course, that also means that Golden Knights teammates will be going after each other's throats, with Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin facing off against Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, and Shea Theodore.
Will Vegas Golden Knights fans be treated to a redux of last season's 4 Nations Face-Off Final?
Hockey fans will remember last season's 4 Nations Face-Off and how Connor McDavid got a "golden goal" of his own. He got a feed from Mitch Marner and rushed down the ice, sealing the deal for the Canadians. But the story went beyond the star power. It was also a gathering of Golden Knights superstars of the present and future.
Obviously, that future was Marner. But there were also prominent names on both rosters, including Stone, Eichel, and Hanifin. But there was also Adin Hill, who joined in on the fun, although Jordan Binnington was the main loadbearer for Team Canada. All of this culminated in a fun soiree for Golden Knights fans, even if some players were on the opposite team.
This season? You're looking at the stakes being raised beyond mere civic pride. Marner scored the game-winning goal against the Czech Republic, saving the Canadians from utter embarrassment. He has one goal and four assists in four games for Team Canada, making him a fierce opponent. As for Stone, he has two goals and two assists in that span. Same thing for the Captain.
As for the Americans, Jack Eichel has done well for himself with a goal and three assists. Although he has been relatively quiet in the last two games, the Golden Knights superstar is known to bounce back in a big way. Even Noah Hanifin has done well for himself with a goal and an assist.
I'm not one to write off other opponents, i.e., Slovakia and Finland. But the way that both Canada and the United States have found ways to win makes it tough to ignore. Therefore, be sure to get your popcorn (or poutine if you're Canadian) ready.