Saturday's prime-time contest between Canada and the United States was labeled as the marquee matchup of the 4 Nations Face-Off as soon as the round-robin schedule was released, and players from both squads are already feeling the buzz.
"Somehow, it's ingrained in you," Canadian forward Brad Marchand told Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "I think it's probably just from growing up watching the different series and different games that have been played. Whether it's Olympics or World Cups or world championships, world juniors - those games are ones that you remember ... the ones you look forward to."
He added: "You could go 100 years, and everyone will still know the importance and get up for it - just as much they would if there was a day in between games. That rivalry will go on forever. It'll always be the biggest rivalry in hockey."
The United States entered the tournament as the presumptive favorites to win the event, with Canada close behind. Both countries won their openers, as the Americans dismantled Finland 6-1 and the Canadians defeated Sweden 4-3 in overtime.
The contest will have a massive bearing on the tournament standings - only one game remains for each team afterward. Drew Doughty, one of the most decorated international players on Canada's roster, desperately wants to win.
"Growing up as a young kid, when you go play American teams and stuff like that, you want to beat them so bad," he said. "And I still have this feeling, at 35 years old, how bad you want to beat the Americans."
The Americans were frequently booed in their tournament opener Thursday night, and are embracing being villains on enemy soil before the event shifts from Montreal to Boston.
"I think we like it," J.T. Miller told NHL.com's Bill Price. "We know we're in Canada, and I think that fires us up more than anything."
Added blue-liner Noah Hanifin: "We're kind of the bad guys, it's a fun role to play. I know the environment tomorrow is going to be probably the most intense I’ve ever been a part of. So it’s these moments you dream of and it’s exciting to be a part of it. It’s stuff that you’ll take with you the rest of your life."
Brady Tkachuk said after defeating Finland that the clash with Canada will be the biggest game of his career to date.
The rivals can potentially meet in the final as well, depending on how the standings end up. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
