Breaking down the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament format: Rosters, rules, schedule and more
The 4 Nations Face-Off kicks off on Wednesday, Feb. 12 in Montreal, spanning eight days and ending in Boston on Feb. 20.
It’s the first – and potentially only – tournament of its kind like this. We’ve seen the NHL host World Cup events in the past, with the most recent being a six-nation, eight-team showing in Toronto back in 2016. This tournament has been scaled back to just four, but is being billed by many as an appetizer for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.
While the tournament might be a one-off, it’s a nice change from the slog that often occurs during the NHL season each February. So, enjoy it – it might be “meaningless” in the grand scheme of things, but seeing all the top-end talent in one spot with something on the line should make for some exciting hockey.
Here’s a look at everything else you need to know:
Tournament Format
This is an unusually short international tournament with just four teams and seven games total. But unlike the Olympics or World Championship, which features a group stage followed by a three-round playoff format, this one is simple: just record as many points as humanly possible in the three games round-robin games. The two teams with the most points after Monday’s round-robin finale will advance to Thursday’s championship game – there will not be a bronze medal bout.
Rule Changes
Unlike in the NHL, where you get two points for a win no matter how you do it, the 4 Nations Face-Off will follow a more traditional international point structure. A regulation win will award you three points, an overtime/shootout victory will pay two, and an overtime loss will give you one. That means a perfect 3-0-0-0 record will give you nine points, while two regulation wins and and overtime victory will give you eight.
The NHL features a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime that leads into a shootout if needed. At the 4 Nations Face-Off, extra time will be extended to 10 minutes, and then a shootout if needed. If overtime is required during the championship game, it will follow NHL playoff rules – 20 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey until someone scores.
Schedule
- Wednesday, Feb. 12: Canada vs. Sweden in Montreal, 8:00 PM ET
- Thursday, Feb. 13: USA vs. Finland in Montreal, 8:00 PM ET
- Saturday, Feb. 15: Finland vs. Sweden in Montreal, 1:00 PM ET
- Saturday, Feb. 15: USA vs. Canada in Montreal, 8:00 PM ET
- Monday, Feb. 17: Canada vs. Finland in Boston, 1:00 PM ET
- Monday, Feb. 17: Sweden vs. USA in Boston, 8:00 PM ET
- Thursday, Feb. 20: Championship game in Boston, 8:00 PM ET
Rosters
Each team consists of 23 players – three goaltenders, seven defensemen and 13 forwards. Each team will have one scratch per position, but scratches can be swapped out at any time. A normal lineup will feature 12 forwards and six defensemen with two goaltenders.
All players had to be on NHL rosters at the time of being named to the team. So that meant no players playing elsewhere – such as the KHL, Finnish Liiga or the Swedish Hockey League – were eligible to participate. That includes active AHLers, as well. Players had to be on an NHL contract an on active roster at the time of being included – for most players, that was Dec. 2, 2024.
A full list of players who backed out of the tournament due to injury-related concerns:
Alex Pietrangelo, D (CAN)
Rasmus Ristolainen, D (FIN)
Miro Heiskanen, D (FIN)
Jani Hakanpaa, D (FIN)
Jacob Markstrom, G (SWE)
William Karlsson, F (SWE)
Quinn Hughes, D (USA)
Daily Faceoff Live is on the road! From February 10th to 20th, we’re bringing you live shows every weekday straight from Four Nations, delivering exclusive coverage, insider analysis, and all the tournament action as it unfolds. Don’t miss a beat—subscribe to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow us on social for the latest updates. It’s international hockey, so expect intensity, excitement, and maybe even a little chaos. Stay locked in and catch us live from Four Nations!