This #NHLStats Pack includes links to various documents and resources for the 4 Nations Face-Off. It also features supporting tournament-level notes for the ninth NHL International Tournament to date, following five Canada Cups and three World Cups of Hockey, as well as charts with expanded information. More information, including an updated By The Numbers for 4 Nations Face-Off rosters, will be added in the coming days (after Canada’s 23rd player is announced).
* Team-specific #NHLStats Packs also are available at these links: Canada | Finland | Sweden | USA
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A robust rollout of NHL International Tournament history, statistics and records have been added to Records.NHL.com. It includes all Canada Cup (1976, 1981, 1984, 1987 & 1991) and World Cup of Hockey (1996, 2004 & 2016) tournaments, and will update daily with 4 Nations Face-Off statistics.
| Overview | |||||||||||||
| Winners | Clinching Goals | History/Tournament Tidbits | Did You Know? | ||||||||||
| Tournament Recaps | |||||||||||||
| Canada Cup | World Cup of Hockey | ||||||||||||
| 1976 | 1981 | 1984 | 1987 | 1991 | 1996 | 2004 | 2016 | ||||||
| Sections available for each tournament:Champion | MVP | Format and Results | Skater Statistics | Goaltender Statistics | Rosters | |||||||||||||
| Records | |||||||||||||
| Skater Records | Goaltender Records | Team Records | |||||||||||
| · Championships, Appearances and Games Played· Goals· Assists· Points· Special Teams· Penalty Shots· Fastest Goals | · Championships, Appearances and Games Played· Goals-Against Average· Save Percentage· Saves· Shots Against· Shutouts | · Championships· Goals· Power-Play Goals· Fastest Goals· Shots on Goal· Overtime | |||||||||||
| Registers | |||||||||||||
| Skater Register | Goaltender Register | ||||||||||||
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Additional resources will soon be available in the 4 Nations Face-Off Interactive Information Guide, including tiebreaking procedures.
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Key takeaways from records for NHL International Tournaments,which includes 4 Nations Face-Off, along with all World Cup of Hockey (1996, 2004 & 2016) and all Canada Cup (1976, 1981, 1984, 1987 & 1991) events.
Tournament Trends
34 – Comeback wins across the eight previous NHL International Tournaments, with 85% of those achieved by Canada (13), Sweden (7), the United States (6) and Finland (3). Overall, the list includes seven multi-goal comeback wins – all by Canada (2), Sweden (2), the United States (2) and Finland (1) – and two victories after trailing by three or more goals (by Canada & Finland). There have been eight third-period comeback wins, all from a one-goal deficit. A breakdown of comeback wins for 4 Nations Face-Off teams is in the “Charts” section below.
12 – Canada has won 12 consecutive games at NHL International Tournaments dating to the 2004 World Cup of Hockey opener, the longest such winning streak in history.
11 – Total overtime games in NHL International Tournament history. Four of those have come during the final round, but only one clinched a championship: Darryl Sittler (Canada) in Game 2 of the 1976 Canada Cup Final against Czechoslovakia. Each 4 Nations Face-Off team’s overtime record: Canada (6 wins, 1 loss), Finland (1 tie), Sweden (3 losses, 1 tie) and USA (1 loss).
6 – Canada accounts for six of eight MVPs at NHL International Tournaments (Bobby Orr in 1976, John Tonelli in 1984, Wayne Gretzky in 1987 & 1991, Vincent Lecavalier in 2004 and Sidney Crosby in 2016) as well as six of eight championships. The other two MVPs and championships were secured by the Soviet Union and United States as goaltenders Vladislav Tretiak (1981) and Mike Richter (1996) claimed the awards during championship runs for their respective teams. MVPs by team: Canada (6), United States (1), Soviet Union (1). MVPs by position: Forward (5), Goaltender (2), Defenseman (1). Click the links for profiles of each MVP.
4 – Active players who have served as captain at an NHL International Tournament: Sidney Crosby (Canada), Anze Kopitar (Europe), Connor McDavid (North America) and Alex Ovechkin (Russia) all did so at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. A breakdown of NHL International Tournament captains for 4 Nations Face-Off teams is in the “Charts” section below.
2 – The first two games ever played at an NHL International Tournament involved the teams competing in the 4 Nations Face-Off: the 1976 Canada Cup opened with Canada-Finland followed by Sweden-USA.
1 – The only active player to score a championship-clinching goal at an NHL International Tournament is Brad Marchand (Canada), at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. It came at 19:16 of the third period in Game 2 of the final, the latest championship-clinching goal in regulation in NHL International Tournament history.
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Skaters
64 – The record for career points at NHL International Tournaments, held by Wayne Gretzky (Canada) – more than double the next-closest players. Sidney Crosby (Canada; 10) is the only active player with a double-digit total entering the 4 Nations Face-Off.
10 – The number of hat tricks scored at NHL International Tournaments, achieved by eight different players from four teams (Canada: 4; Soviet Union: 3; United States: 2; Sweden: 1). Keith Tkachuk (United States) and Mario Lemieux (Canada) are the only players with multiple (both have 2). The last one was by Tkachuk at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey (a four-goal showing vs. Russia).
9 – The most points in one tournament by a player who played four games or fewer, achieved by Gilbert Perreault (Canada) who tallied 3-6—9 in four games at the 1981 Canada Cup. He is one of seven players who has had six or more points in one NHL International Tournament while playing less than five games (a list that includes five Swedish players).
7 – Assists by Sidney Crosby (Canada) at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, tied for 10th place on the list for most assists by any player at one NHL International Tournament. That’s also the most career assists at NHL International Tournaments among active players.
6 – The record for most assists in a game at an NHL International Tournament, set by Peter Forsberg (Sweden) with 0-6—6 vs. Germany at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. That performance also allowed Forsberg to match the record for points in a game at an NHL International Tournament.
5 – Goals by Brad Marchand (Canada) at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, six shy of the record for most goals by any player at one NHL International Tournament and the most career goals among active players.
4 – The record for goals in a game by a player at NHL International Tournament, achieved by Viktor Zhluktov (Soviet Union) at the 1976 Canada Cup (vs. Finland) and by Keith Tkachuk (United States) at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey (vs. Russia). Brad Marchand (Canada) is one of three active players with a multi-goal game.
4 – The most goals by a defenseman in one tournament, set by Borje Salming (Sweden) at the 1976 Canada Cup. The most goals by a defenseman in one game is two, achieved six times (including at least once by each 4 Nations team) and last done by Derian Hatcher (United States) vs. Canada at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. The records for most assists and points by a defenseman in one game are both three.
0 – There has never been a hat trick within one period at an NHL International Tournament. However, there have been 41 multi-goal periods by players at the Canada Cup and World Cup of Hockey.
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Goaltenders and Shutouts
139:22 – The longest shutout streak by a goaltender within an NHL International Tournament, achieved by Rogie Vachon (Canada) at the 1976 Canada Cup (Sept. 11-15, 1976). That is one of three shutout streaks of 105:00 or longer in NHL International Tournament history, with Vachon (139:02; Sept. 5-9, 1976) also ranking second on that list ahead of Miikka Kiprusoff (Finland; 132:27 at 2004 World Cup of Hockey, Aug. 30-Sept. 4, 2004).
50 – Saves by Kari Takko (Finland) during a round-robin game vs. Canada at the 1987 Canada Cup, at the time an NHL International Tournament record for saves in a game – but broken two weeks later in the final by a 55-save effort from Evgeni Belosheikin (Soviet Union), also vs. Canada. The record for saves in one tournament also was set at the 1987 Canada Cup, by Grant Fuhr (Canada; 266). Mike Richter (United States; 387) has the most career saves at NHL International Tournaments, just ahead of Peter Lindmark (Sweden; 370). Records for shots against also are available for goaltenders (game, tournament and career), as are benchmarks for goals-against average (tournament and career) and save percentage (tournament and career).
21 – The number of shutouts recorded at the eight previous NHL International Tournaments. Canada (6) leads all teams, followed by Sweden (4), Finland (3), Soviet Union (3), Czechoslovakia (2), Russia (2) and Europe (1).
5 – The most total shutouts in one NHL International Tournament, seen at the 1976 Canada Cup (Canada: 2; Czechoslovakia: 2; Soviet Union: 1). A team has never had more than two shutouts at one event.
2 – The most shutouts recorded by one goaltender at a single NHL International Tournament, achieved by Rogie Vachon (Canada) at the 1976 Canada Cup and Miikka Kiprusoff (Finland) at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Vachon, Kiprusoff and Peter Lindmark (Sweden) are the only goaltenders with multiple career shutouts (all 2).
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Teams
61 – The record for most shots on goal by one team in a game at an NHL International Tournament, set by Canada in a double-overtime contest against the Soviet Union in the Game 2 of the 1987 Canada Cup. That matchup also produced the benchmark for most shots on goal by both teams in a game (111).
28 – The record for most shots on goal by one team in a period at an NHL International Tournament, set by Sweden at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. The record for most shots on goal by both teams in a period is 35, set by Czechoslovakia (27) and Finland (8) at the 1981 Canada Cup.
7 – The record for most goals by both teams in a period at an NHL International Tournament, set by Canada (5) and the United States (2) during the 1981 Canada Cup.
5 – The record for most goals by one team in a period at an NHL International Tournament, achieved 10 times. The first two instances involved 4 Nations teams: Canada in the third period vs. Finland on Sept. 2, 1976, and Sweden in the first period vs. the United States on Sept. 3, 1976. The records for most goals by one team in a game (11) and most goals by both teams in a game (14) also were set at the 1976 Canada Cup.
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Special Teams
215 – Total power-play goals scored at NHL International Tournaments, with two-thirds of those tallied by 4 Nations teams (Canada: 55; Sweden: 41; USA: 27; Finland: 19). Records.NHL.com includes records for skaters (Career: PPG, PPA & PPP; Tournament: PPG; Game: PPG) and teams (Tournament: PPG; Game: PPG one team & PPG both teams).
30 – Total shorthanded goals scored at NHL International Tournaments, including one by Brad Marchand (Canada). Shorthanded goals for 4 Nations Face-Off teams: Canada (9), USA (3), Sweden (1) and Finland (0).
4 – There have been four penalty-shot attempts at NHL International tournaments, including two at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The only penalty-shot goal was scored by Robert Reichel (Czech Republic) at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey vs. Finland.
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Fastest Goals
0:11 – The record for fastest two goals by one team at an NHL International Tournament, achieved by the United States vs. Finland at the 1991 Cup Canada. The record for fastest two goals by both teams is 0:06.
0:30 – The fastest goal from the start of a game at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, scored by Auston Matthews (North America) vs. Sweden. Overall, it was the seventh time a player scored in the first 30 seconds of a game at an NHL International Tournament (eight seconds shy of the record for fastest goal from the start of a game). There are nine international “fastest goal” records for skaters (5) and teams (4) on Records.NHL.com.
0:40 – The record for fastest three goals (by one team and by both teams) at an NHL International Tournament, achieved by Finland at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
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Miscellaneous
35 – TD Garden will be the 35th venue to host an NHL International Tournament game (round-robin onward).
29 – Boston will become the 29th city to host an NHL International Tournament game (round-robin onward).
16 – Total number of players who have won multiple championships at NHL International Tournaments (15 skaters, 1 goaltender). Two players set to participate in the 4 Nations Face-Off can add their names to that list: Sidney Crosby and Brad Marchand won with Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
9 – Montreal has hosted games in all nine NHL International Tournaments. Round-robin and/or playoff games were played in the city in each of the first seven events (1976 Canada Cup to 2004 World Cup of Hockey), followed by a pre-tournament game ahead of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey (Team North America 7, Team Europe 4) and now the first four contests of the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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The chart at the bottom of this section includes NHL firsts for players born and trained in the countries part of the 4 Nations Face-Off. Other notables:
* Forward Ulf Sterner of Sweden became the first European-trained player to appear in an NHL game when he skated for the New York Rangers on Jan. 27, 1965 (vs. Boston Bruins). His only road game in the NHL was played in Montreal on Jan. 30, 1965 (at Montreal Forum).
* The first European born-and-trained player selected in the NHL Draft was Tommi Salmelainen of Finland, picked 66th overall by the St. Louis Blues at the 1969 draft held in Montreal.
* The first European-born goaltender selected in the NHL Draft was Markus Mattsson of Finland, picked 87th overall by the New York Islanders at the 1977 draft held in Montreal.
* The first European born-and-trained players to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup were Anders Kallur and Stefan Persson of Sweden, with the 1980 New York Islanders.
* The first European born-and-trained player to win the Calder Memorial Trophy was Czechoslovakian forward Peter Stastny, with the 1980-81 Quebec Nordiques.
* The first European born-and-trained goaltender to win the Vezina Trophy was Pelle Lindbergh of Sweden, with the 1984-85 Philadelphia Flyers.
* The first European-born player selected first overall in the NHL Draft was Mats Sundin of Sweden, picked by the Quebec Nordiques at the 1989 draft held in Bloomington, Minn.
* The first player born-and-trained outside North America to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as NHL MVP was Sergei Fedorov of Russia, with the 1993-94 Detroit Red Wings. That triggered a stretch where four of six Hart Trophy wins were claimed by European players: Czech goaltender Dominik Hasek (1996-97 & 1997-98) and Czech forward Jaromir Jagr (1998-99) won three in a row to close out the 1990s (after also helping the Czech Republic win its first Olympic gold medal in 1998, the first competition where NHL players were eligible to participate).
* The first European born-and-trained player to lead the NHL in scoring was Czech native Jaromir Jagr, winning the Art Ross Trophy in 1994-95 – the first of five in his career (also four straight from 1997-98 to 2000-01).
* The first European born-and-trained player to win the James Norris Memorial Trophy was Nicklas Lidstrom of Sweden, with the 2000-01 Detroit Red Wings (his first of seven Norris Trophy wins). Lidstrom would later become the first European-born player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP (2001-02) and the first European born-and-trained captain of a Stanley Cup champion (2008 Red Wings).
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Download the PDF for the following charts:
- NHL Firsts for Players Born and Trained in Canada, Finland, Sweden and USA
- Captains at NHL International Tournaments, 4 Nations Face-Off Teams
- First Goal of NHL International Tournaments
- Cumulative Record at NHL International Tournaments, 4 Nations Face-Off Teams
- Game Breakdown by 4 Nations Face-Off Opponent for Canada, Finland, Sweden and USA
- Comeback Wins at NHL International Tournaments by Team
- Comeback Wins at NHL International Tournaments
- Sets of American Brothers to Play Together at an NHL International Tournament
- Sets of Brothers to Play Together at an NHL International Tournament
- Youngest Players, 4 Nations Face-Off
- Oldest Players, 4 Nations Face-Off
- Youngest Player at Each NHL International Tournament (Min. 1 GP)
- Oldest Player at Each NHL International Tournament (Min. 1 GP)
