A look at Mika Zibanejad’s performance at Game 1 of the 4 Nations Face-Off

The first 4 Nations Face-Off matchup between Team Canada and Team Sweden didn’t go the way that Team Sweden wanted, but New York Ranger player Mika Zibanejad started for the team and added value. It was a close game and went into overtime, where Team Canada scored the winning goal and secured the win for their nation.

The 4 Nations Face-Off has officially kicked off. Team Canada and Team Sweden took to the ice at the Bell Center in Montreal to open the tournament. Mika Zibanejad came out in the starting line-up in Sweden’s bright-colored yellow jersey, ready to start the game. Being back in Sweden’s jersey meant something for him because before the 4 Nations Face-Off started, he said in an interview on February 11th. Zibanejad has been away from Swedish hockey for 14 years, so it has to be nostalgic and comforting to be back with Team Sweden after all those years.

"I feel like a kid again, honestly speaking Swedish to my teammates, having meetings in Swedish. It’s just it kind of brings you back."

Mika Zibanejad

Zibanejad had a positive attitude towards playing a game against Team Canada in Canada. During the opener, Canadians booed all of the Swedish team as they came out. Team Sweden didn’t let this take them down in their game spirit because they played an intense hockey game and it wasn't easy. The game started slow for Team Sweden, with little to no impact on scoring, and Team Canada scored twice in the first period. Team Sweden with three shots on goal and Team Canada with seven shots on goal. During the second period, the momentum shifts, and Team Sweden is awake with nine shots on goal and Team Canada with seven. Team Sweden brings the score to 3-2 at the end of the second period. Team Canada can see that this won’t be an easy win, with Team Sweden picking up speed in shots on goal.

Team Sweden got two more goals in the third period, bringing the score to a tie of 3-3. Both teams went to overtime with 10 minutes instead of the normal regulation of 5 minutes. Announcers say that the 10-minute OT could be a trial run to change the regular OT to 10 minutes instead of five minutes. Both teams' energy was electric down the ice, as this was a big game for both of them and the opener for the 4 Nations Face-Off. In the final minutes of OT, Zibanejad was alone with the puck and took a shot, but it bounced off the glass. At the end of this extraordinary overtime, Team Canada won the first 4 Nations Face-Off game.

Even though Team Sweden lost, Zibanejad added value to the team. Zibanejad was the Team Sweden player with the fourth most time on the ice with 20:01 of playing time split into 27 shifts. He had the highest face-off win percentage of the Swedish team, with a 55% face-off win percentage.

The next time to see Zibanejad play on Team Sweden will be February 15th at 1:00 p.m. EST . Team Sweden will be playing Team Finland for the first time, which includes his fellow New York Ranger, Urho Vaakanainen as well as former Ranger and current Kraken player Kaapo Kakko. With a Ranger on each team, which team will bring victory to its nation?