Now, it is on the NHL to retain all those new fans. Now, it is on Team USA to do what it could not Thursday and win gold a year from now at the Olympics.

The NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off break is nearly over, and the focus will shift from Team Canada and Team USA Thursday night to the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoff race. And with about one-third of the regular season yet to play,

The NHL just put on a masterclass in creating a high-stakes mid-season sporting event. Many sports fans find themselves starved for playoff-intensity action after the Super Bowl. The NHL successfully filled that void with the 4 Nations Face-Off,

Johnny Gaudreau would have been a lock to be on Team USA. The Americans have been honoring the Gaudreaus memory and contributions to USA Hockey throughout the 4 Nations event. Their father, Guy Gaudreau was part of the Americans first practice and joined the team dinner on Feb. 10.

How well did the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off perform? Well enough to make hockey look great. And to make it look bad. Via FrontOfficeSports.com, the game between the U.S. and Canada attracted an average audience of 9.