BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — With no expectations and plenty of uncertainty, the 4 Nations Tournament has exceeded all doubts and proven to be a major success for the NHL and the sport of hockey as a whole.
The TV ratings tell the story, with Saturday night’s USA-Canada matchup drawing 10.1 million viewers across North America—the highest for any non-Stanley Cup Final game since 2014.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff reflected on the tournament’s intensity, saying, “Someone asked me what I expected, and I wanted to see the compete level. I think that question was answered.”
Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson was equally impressed. “That first period between USA and Canada was the best first period of hockey I’ve ever seen,” he said. “It’s been great watching Ras (Rasmus Dahlin) and Joki (Henri Jokiharju) and seeing how much it means to them to represent their countries.”
For Sabres forward Tage Thompson, who was left off Team USA’s roster, the tournament carries a different weight. While he felt he deserved a spot, he remains focused on his season.
“Playing in the 4 Nations and the Olympics are goals of mine,” Thompson said. “Not being selected puts a chip on your shoulder, but I believe if I keep doing the right things to help my team win, those opportunities will come.” Meanwhile, the team was thrilled to see Jokiharju score the opening goal in Finland’s game against the USA.
“I was really excited,” JJ Peterka said. “Seeing him make an impact right away, especially as a late addition, was pretty cool.” Buffalo’s next game is set for Saturday at home against the New York Rangers, with puck drop scheduled for 5:30 p.m.