4 nations face-off rivalry doubleheads is ‘what you dream of’

Montreal -Dylan Larkin talked about what makes the Canada-United States Hockey rivaling so special.

He mentioned the story of it, play he watched as a child as the Olympic gold medal game in 2010 and New Year’s Eve at the World Juniors. He gathered together as a family, as if it were a holiday every time you treated a US-Canada game like their Super Bowl.

Then, the moment he spoke Friday, it was almost as if Larkin, USA forward from Waterford, Michigan, realized where he was and where he would soon be.

“Being able to be part of it Saturday night in Montreal,” said Larkin, “it’s perfect.”

Rivalry Saturday at 4 Nations Face-off is almost here and it has the creation of being an epic double head in the Bell Center.

Sweden against Finland in the afternoon (13 o’clock one; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS).

“Prime Time at home, 7 o’clock (in Sweden) and at 8 o’clock in Finland,” said Sweden defends Victor Hedman. “There will be millions of people looking at that game.”

USA against Canada in the evening (at 8pm et; ABC, ESPN+, SN, Tvas).

“It’s great, it’s exciting,” said Canada tip Connor McDavid. “To play Americans in Montreal, best-on-best tournament. That’s what you dream of.”

The United States leads the tournament with three points after a 6-1 win against Finland on Thursday. Canada has two points for its 4-3 overtime win against Sweden on Wednesday. Sweden has a point for the loss overtime. Finland has zero.

An American regulatory gain guarantees somewhere in the final of TD Garden in Boston on Thursday. Another loss of regulatory would eliminate Finland from claiming to reach the final. There are other potential clinical scenarios that are at stake.

But all this is part of the story that matters at the end of the night.

The rivalries and everything they mean to the players and their nations carry the day.

“I love it,” Hedman said.