4 Nations Face-Off: Final-Clinching Scenarios For Canada, Finland And Sweden

Canada's Mitch Marner and Sweden's Elias Pettersson

Monday’s 4 Nations Face-Off action in Boston will determine which squad faces Team USA in Thursday’s final.

Ahead of the matchup between Canada and Finland at 1 p.m. ET, the other three participating countries can still qualify for a rematch against the Americans. However, at least one team will play its final game in the matinee.

Sweden’s fate is in Canada and Finland’s hands for now. If that game goes to overtime, the Swedes’ destiny is back under their control when they play Team USA at 8 p.m. ET.

Here are the standings before Monday’s games and the scenarios for who will face the Americans in the championship game.

Standings

Three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime/shootout win, one point for an overtime/shootout loss, no points for a regulation loss)

1. Team USA: six points (two regulation wins)

2. Team Canada: two points (one overtime win, one regulation loss)

3. Team Finland: two points (one overtime win, one regulation loss)

4. Team Sweden: two points (two overtime losses)

The tiebreaker is the head-to-head result. Canada and Finland have already beaten Sweden, so Sweden does not hold the tiebreaker against either team if they are tied in points.

Clinching Scenarios

Canada and Finland both need to win in regulation to guarantee a spot in the final before Sweden and the U.S. play. If Canada and Finland are tied after regulation, the winners will only receive two points in the standings. That makes it possible for Sweden to overtake them in the standings with a regulation win.

Canada will advance if:

– It beats Finland in regulation, or

– It beats Finland in overtime or a shootout, and Sweden does not beat Team USA in regulation

Finland will advance if:

– It beats Canada in regulation, or

– It beats Canada in overtime or a shootout, and Sweden does not beat Team USA in regulation

Sweden will advance if:

– The Canada and Finland game is decided in overtime or a shootout, and Sweden beats Team USA in regulation