Party on Fifth Ave.

[Captain Canada]

Getting it done without Malkin is impressive. The wins keep racking up

Crosby saw Malkin getting a lot of attention and said "hold my drink".

[Captain Canada]

By Michelle Crechiolo
Penguins Team Reporter

The NHL will pause play to hold the 4 Nations Face-Off from Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston. A few members of the Penguins organization are taking part in the event, which features Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States competing against each other in round-robin play. It’s the first international tournament to feature exclusively NHL players since the World Cup of Hockey in 2016.

“When you look at the product, I mean, it’s best on best. Guys representing their country, I think it's some of the best hockey you'll see,” Sidney Crosby said. “So, I think it's great for the fans, for the players. I know that everyone gets really excited for the opportunity to compete against one another. So, I think it's something that benefits everyone. But definitely, I think as far as talking about growing the game, to see it at its best, internationally like that, it's pretty unique.”

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF FORMAT

All games in the 4 Nations Face-Off will be played in accordance with NHL rules. Each team will play three tournament games in a traditional Round Robin format, under the following points system: 3 points for a win in regulation time; 2 points for a win in overtime/shootout; 1 point for a loss in overtime/shootout; and 0 points for a loss in regulation time. The two teams with the best tournament record will then advance to a one-game Final. For more information, visit https://nhl.com/4nations.

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF SCHEDULE

At Bell Centre, Montreal

Wednesday, Feb. 12
Canada vs. Sweden, 8 PM; TNT, MAX

Thursday, Feb. 13
United States vs. Finland, 8 PM; ESPN, ESPN+

Saturday, Feb. 15
Finland vs. Sweden, 1 PM; ABC, ESPN+
United States vs. Canada, 8 PM; ABC, ESPN+

At TD Garden, Boston

Monday, Feb. 17
Canada vs. Finland, 1 PM; TNT, MAX
Sweden vs. United States, 8 PM; TNT, MAX

Thursday, Feb. 20
Championship game, 8 PM; ESPN, ESPN+; Disney +, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

CANADA: Sidney Crosby

"Excited to get there and to get going," Crosby said upon learning he will be in Montreal.

Crosby is captain of Team Canada, a move that Connor McDavid called it a “no brainer.” That sentiment is shared by the entire hockey world, especially considering what Crosby has accomplished at the international level: he has won two Olympic gold medals (2010, ’14), serving as an alternate captain in 2010 and captain for the 2014 squad. He scored the gold-medal-winning overtime goal against the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games on his native soil in Vancouver, BC, which has since been dubbed “The Golden Goal”.

Crosby has also won gold medals in the World Cup of Hockey (2016), World Championship (2015) and World Junior Championship (2005). He is the 26th player ever to join the Triple Gold Club, which is winning the Stanley Cup and gold medals at the Olympic Games and the World Championship. He is the only member of the 30-player club to captain all three of his teams to their respective titles.

“There’s so much humility that just bleeds through him, and that’s why people follow him,” Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper said. "Talk about wanting to play for your country; it’s remarkable the passion he has for it. It’s probably the reason why he has a whole lot of wins and not a whole lot of losses when he plays in these events.”

SWEDEN: Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell

Karlsson is an alternate captain for Sweden. He most recently represented his country at the 2024 World Championship, captaining the team to a bronze medal.

He’s also medaled with Team Sweden at the 2014 Olympic Games (silver), the 2010 World Championship (bronze), 2009 World Junior Championship (silver). He led all players in points and was named the “Best Defenseman” at the Olympics in 2014.

Rakell was left off Sweden's initial roster despite his numbers - which have been terrific - and strong overall play. Rakell kept his head down and worked hard, and got the call he deserved, officially being named to the group.

“Obviously, it was always my goal to make it,” said Rakell. “It was tough to get that phone call to hear that I didn't make it, but that's life. You just got to keep fighting and here we are. Now I finally get the chance. I'm going to try to do the best I can.”

UNITED STATES: Mike Sullivan, David Quinn, Madison Nikkel

Pittsburgh’s head coach will be the bench boss for Team USA, which should be an extremely beneficial experience heading into the 2026 Olympics, where Sullivan will lead that group as well.

“It will be a talented group that I think can compete against any team in any environment with their speed, their skill, their size... there's abrasiveness, there's defensive conscience, there's dynamically offensive players,” Sullivan said. “But as I've said all along, every team is going to have talent. Talent alone isn't going to win the tournament, we don't think. I think our challenge is to become a team, and I'm incredibly honored to be the coach of this team, and so looking forward to the opportunity to compete with these guys.”

Team USA GM Bill Guerin spent several years in hockey operations with Pittsburgh, watching as Sullivan helped steer the Penguins to a pair of Stanley Cup championships.

“Mike is a real leader,” said Guerin, now GM of the Minnesota Wild. “You know what, he can command the room. When he goes in and he speaks to the players, it’s direct, it’s honest. He communicates very well with the players, I’ve seen it firsthand. Obviously, he’s an excellent coach, but I think the thing that really impresses me about Mike is his leadership and his communication with the players.”

Penguins assistant coach David Quinn, who has overseen the resurgence of Pittsburgh's power play in his first year with the club, is an assistant coach for Team USA. Penguins video coach Madison Nikkel is serving in that same role for Team USA.

[Chillcavern]

Got people involved all around the Four Nations lfg

33-9-1?

[Captain Canada]

Got people involved all around the Four Nations lfg

33-9-1?

Cooking with grease over here. Let's keep it moving.

[Captain Canada]

Crosby continues red-hot streak, powers Pens to 14 straight with win against Sens
Regular Season, Game 44: January 11, 2025 - PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

2 vs. 5



1ST PERIOD
3:06 - Kevin Hayes (4) Assisted by: Ryan Graves & Erik Karlsson
4:50 - Philip Tomasino (5) Assisted by: Rickard Rakell & Danton Heinen (PP)

2ND PERIOD
3:13 - Brady Tkachuk (14) Assisted by: Tim Stutzle & Claude Giroux
10:52 - Sidney Crosby (21) Assisted by: Erik Karlsson

3RD PERIOD
2:14 - Sam Poulin (4) Assisted by: Sidney Crosby & Bryan Rust
10:47 - Rickard Rakell (10) Assisted by: Matt Grzcelcyk & Kris Letang (PP)
18:40 - Tim Stutzle (18) Assisted by: Nicolas Matinpalo

---

Goaltending Matchup
vs.

Ottawa Senators: Linus Ullmark - 39 saves on 44 shots | Pittsburgh Penguins: Tristan Jarry - 18 saves on 20 shots

Record: 34-9-1

[Captain Canada]

Lightning slides past Penguins in shootout, legendary winning streak halts at 14
Regular Season, Game 45: January 12, 2025 - PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

5 vs. 4



1ST PERIOD
5:03 - Jake Guentzel (14) Assisted by: Brayden Point & Nikita Kucherov
5:22 - Philip Tomasino (6) Assisted by: Blake Lizotte (PP)
19:22 - Anthony Cirelli (15) Assisted by: Brandon Hagel & J.J. Moser

2ND PERIOD
10:50 - Matt Grzelcyk (10) Assisted by: Sidney Crosby & Sam Poulin (PP)
11:22 - Morgan Geekie (5) Assisted by: Blake Wheeler & Zemgus Girgensons

3RD PERIOD
4:14 - Nikita Kucherov (28) Assisted by: Victor Hedman & Jake Guentzel
14:00 - Sam Poulin (5) Assisted by: Erik Karlsson & Matt Grzelcyk
19:45 - Sidney Crosby (22) Assisted by: Kris Letang & Jack St. Ivany

OVERTIME
NO SCORING

SHOOUTOUT
Nikita Kucherov - O | Sidney Crosby - O
Brayden Point - O | Erik Karlsson - X
Brandon Hagel - X | Bryan Rust - X

---

Goaltending Matchup
vs.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Andrei Vasilevskiy - 41 saves on 45 shots | Pittsburgh Penguins: Alex Nedeljkovic - 31 saves on 35 shots

Record: 34-9-2

[Chillcavern]

Winning streak may have ended but you still managed to salvage a point in that one

[Captain Canada]

Kraken edges past Penguins, Crosby's last second shot goes post and out
Regular Season, Game 46: January 14, 2025 - PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

4 vs. 3



1ST PERIOD
16:29 - Shane Wright (7) Assisted by: Kaapo Kakko

2ND PERIOD
2:55 - Jaden Schwartz (14) Assisted by: Kaapo Kakko & Shane Wright
8:36 - Eeli Tolvanen (10) Assisted by: Andre Burakovsky & Ryker Evans
12:32 - Vince Dunn (8) Assisted by: Kaapo Kakko & Tye Kartye
113:00 - Sidney Crosby (23) Assisted by: Sam Poulin & Bryan Rust
15:48 - Bryan Rust (13) Assisted by: Sidney Crosby & Erik Karlsson

3RD PERIOD
9:36 - Rutger McGroarty (10) Assisted by: Ville Koivunen & Conor Timmins

---

Goaltending Matchup
vs.

Seattle Kraken: Philipp Grubauer - 35 saves on 38 shots | Pittsburgh Penguins: Alex Nedeljkovic - 31 saves on 35 shots

Record: 34-10-2

[Captain Canada]

Winning streak may have ended but you still managed to salvage a point in that one

Spoke too damn soon

[Captain Canada]