In an exhilarating overtime finish at the 4 Nations Face-Off final, Canada defeated the U.S. 3-2, with Connor McDavid scoring the winning goal. The event saw unprecedented viewership, with 9.3 million tuning in to the final, marking the NHL's largest audience in history. This rivalry, heightened by current political tensions, set the stage for future international competitions, including the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, where NHL players will compete again. NHL executives are now faced with the challenge of harnessing this renewed fan interest to boost the sport's popularity ahead of upcoming events like the Stadium Series.