NHL Stars McDavid, MacKinnon to Clash in 4 Nations Face-Off Preview

DENVER, Colo. — Hockey fans are in for a star-studded showdown as Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers face Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night at Ball Arena. The matchup serves as a preview of the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, featuring elite NHL talent from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and Germany.

The game, set for 9:30 p.m. ET, will showcase four of the past five Hart Trophy winners: McDavid (2023, 2021), MacKinnon (2024), and Leon Draisaitl (2020). Both teams are riding strong seasons, with the Oilers at 28-13-3 and the Avalanche at 27-17-1. This marks the second of three regular-season meetings between the clubs.

“It’s always fun, they’re a great challenge,” McDavid said of facing the Avalanche. “Whenever you get that many stars in one game, it’s always fun.”

The rivalry between the teams intensified during the 2022 Western Conference Final, where the Avalanche swept the Oilers en route to a Stanley Cup victory. Edmonton, however, reached the Stanley Cup Final last season, narrowly losing to the Florida Panthers in Game 7.

Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen, who will represent Finland in the 4 Nations Face-Off, acknowledged the intensity of the matchup. “They’re obviously very, very good players,” Rantanen said. “It’s pretty high-emotion, a lot of little chippiness because they’re obviously a really good team.”

Thursday’s game will feature a wealth of offensive firepower. MacKinnon leads the NHL with 70 points (15 goals, 55 assists) in 45 games, while Rantanen ranks fourth with 61 points (25 goals, 36 assists). On the Oilers’ side, Draisaitl is second in the league with 65 points (31 goals, 34 assists), and McDavid is fourth with 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists).

Defensively, Colorado’s Cale Makar, the 2022 Norris Trophy winner, is tied for the league lead among defensemen with 50 points (13 goals, 37 assists). Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard has also been a key contributor, anchoring the Oilers’ blue line.

“It’s a great challenge, that five-man unit they put out there with MacKinnon, Makar, and Toews and Rantanen and all those guys, it’s pretty tough,” McDavid said. “It makes for fun hockey.”

The Oilers have been on a hot streak, going 15-3-1 in their past 19 games. Meanwhile, the Avalanche are looking to rebound after a lackluster performance in their recent win over the New York Rangers. Head Coach Jared Bednar criticized his team’s effort, stating, “Ultimately, we only had half of the team playing. That’s it. Sums up everything.”

The 4 Nations Face-Off, scheduled for Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston, will see McDavid, MacKinnon, Makar, and Rantanen among the NHL’s elite competing for their respective countries. The tournament promises to deliver high-stakes, high-intensity hockey as players vie for international bragging rights.

“I’m trying to be at my best, I’m trying to be at 100 percent every night,” MacKinnon said. “Some days you just don’t have your best, and you have to do your best with what you have.”

As the Oilers and Avalanche prepare for Thursday’s clash, fans can expect a fast-paced, high-scoring game that sets the stage for the upcoming international tournament.