In many ways, the poster children for the return of best-on-best hockey have long been Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. The No. 1 picks from the 2015 and 2016 NHL drafts, respectively, McDavid and Matthews were teased with a version of it as teammates on the made-up Team North America youth squad at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

On Monday, with Canada looking to guarantee a spot in the tournament final with a victory against Finland, it was McDavid again who opened the scoring en route to a 5-3 victory. When it was time to set the tone of the game, the Edmonton Oilers center did exactly that.

Although it's still not perfect, Connor McDavid and pretty much everyone else in hockey is thrilled with the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off. It'll end with an incredible game between Team Canada and USA on Thursday night, for all the bragging rights.

In the midst of cross-warnings, Team Canada star Connor McDavid sent a strong statement ahead of the Four Nations Face-Off final against Matthew Tkachuk's Team USA.

Connor McDavid played in the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, but it was with the 23-and-under Team North America, not Canada.

The 4 Nations Face-Off final is set. A 5-3 win for Canada in Monday's game against Finland has pushed it through to the championship game, where it will face the United States. The U.S. clinched its spot in the final with a 3-1 win over Canada on Saturday.

For Connor McDavid, the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game against Team USA is more than just another marquee matchup—it’s a bit of a mulligan and preparation for this year’s Stanley Cup Final while showcasing himself on an international stage.

Charlie McAvoy lined up Connor McDavid and delivered a textbook hit that sent the best hockey player in the world careening into the glass and down to the ice. A mere 19 seconds later, Jake Guentzel scored the tying goal — McDavid scored the first one — on the way to the United States beating Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off on