Will the New York Rangers bring home best nation bragging rights?

Team USA and Team Canada see who will be the best at the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off. These two teams have proven to be big rivals in history, with the upcoming matchup promising plenty of excitement. Four New York Rangers have a chance to be part of the excitement. The championship game will prove to be elaborate, entertaining, and action-packed with this type of rivalry.

Two teams, one championship game, and an utmost rivalry will determine which nation will come out on top. Team USA and Team Canada are the two teams in this final of all finals for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Both teams went through a series of round-robin hockey games, playing Team Sweden and Team Finland to get here. The extreme tension between these two teams is undeniable. The first time both teams played each other was Feb. 15th in Montreal during the round-robin stage. The pressure was on, and so was their aggression because three fights broke out within nine seconds of the first period. Team USA’s players who sparked up the first period were Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, and New York Ranger J.T. Miller.

The intensity first started with Canadian fans booing the USA's national anthem. Fans are adamant about having national rivalry just as much as the players. Team USA held their ground and showed Team Canada that Team USA means business and needs to defend our nation. Miller threw hands with Colton Parayko, as Miller is the only Ranger to have gotten physical during the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Team USA secured a win against Team Canada with a score of 3-1. If Team USA can win on Canadian soil with Canadian fans booing their national anthem, then their chances of playing and winning the championship are high. The 4 Nations Face-Off championship game is on American soil. Americans have a leg up after being the underdog and beating Team Canada. Team USA hasn’t won a best-on-best hockey tournament since 1996’s World Cup of Hockey. It's time for Team USA to bring the nation the win of all wins. Team Canada has a better track record of winning these types of games. After all, they won the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

A huge unknown is which Ranger players Adam Fox, Vincent Trocheck, Miller, and Chris Kreider, will play in the championship game. Kreider has only played once, replacing an injured teammate. If Team USA players return from their injuries, Kreider will likely be scratched and not play in the championship game.

The statistics of players from the Rangers puts Kreider in the lead. He is the only Ranger to score a goal for Team USA. Kreider also leads the Rangers with the most time on the ice per game at 17:01, followed by Fox at 16:46, Miller at 15:44, and Trocheck at 11:34. On the penalty side, both Miller and Fox have penalty minutes during the games. And for plus-minus points, Kreider is at +1, Miller at +2, Fox is at 0, and Trocheck is at -1, representing their goal differential.

The anticipation builds for the matchup at 8:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 20th, at the TD Garden in Boston. Only time will tell which Ranger players are back on the ice and who has the power, agility, and strength to bring the championship home to their nation. Regardless of the winner, this game will be a dynamic and exciting match and a must-watch for all sports fans.