Looks like the bad blood from the 4 Nations showdown has spilled over into the NHL. The New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs faced off on February 28, and let’s just say the action wasn’t just on the ice. Matthew Knies emerged as the savior and scored the go-ahead goal at 6:21 of the third period to ensure the Leafs came out 3-2 winners at Madison Square Garden. The game-winning moment? A good cycle where Mitch Marner knocked down Igor Shesterkin’s clearing pass and fed Matthews, who then passed it to Knies, whose shot went over Shesterkin’s pad.

The goal came only 2:34 after Rangers tied things up with a shorthanded goal due to a turnover by Nicholas Robertson that led to a Will Cuylle backhand shot, assisted by Mika Zibanejad. And Toronto did this in front of a hostile MSG crowd — a crowd that let them know right of the bat that they had stepped into enemy territory. This was not a surprising development given the tension that was evident during the 4 Nations. New York Rangers’ fans made sure the Leafs felt the heat, proving that some rivalries don’t fade—they just find new arenas to keep the drama alive.

New York Rangers’ game hears the echo!

NHL reporter Mollie Walker hit up X with a glimpse into what went down at Madison Square Garden, and let’s just say—it wasn’t just the game bringing the heat. As the Canadian national anthem echoed through the arena for the Maple Leafs, New York Rangers’ fans weren’t exactly feeling the moment. Instead, a wave of loud boos rolled through the crowd, making it clear where their loyalty stood.

Walker didn’t miss a beat, capturing the moment and sharing it with the world. “Pretty loud boos from MSG crowd during Canadian national anthem ahead of #NYR-Maple Leafs…” she posted, summing up the energy in the building between New York Rangers and Maple Leafs. Safe to say, the rivalry was in full swing before the puck even dropped! Lately, NHL games have come with an unexpected extra—boos raining down during national anthems.

It has become a whole spectacle, especially after Trump imposed tariffs on Canada and even went on to suggest that Canada should become the 51st state. That comment? Well, one could say that it was not well received by their northern counterparts. But if things were already getting heated before, the confrontation reached its peak during the 4 Nations.

From the 4 Nations to the NHL!

When Team USA hit the Bell Centre ice against Finland, the audience did not take long to express their displeasure with the American team by booing the US national anthem. But that was just the beginning. The booing could be heard again as the USA took on Canada in Montreal, thus showing that this was not a one-time event. Some players of Team USA overlooked it, however, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was blunt about his disapproval: “I paid no attention to it. You have free speech; you can do whatever you want if you are gonna boo the anthem. We sing it for the troops that protected our freedom.” A little cold on the ice, a little colder in the stands.

With each jeer and whistle, relations between the two countries rose to the next level. The 4 Nations Face-Off was always quite challenging, but when the games shifted to the TD Garden in Boston, it was time for the Canadians to sweat. As their players lined up, ready to take on Finland, the Boston crowd had a little surprise waiting. The moment O Canada started playing, a wave of boos rippled through the arena, flipping the script on what had gone down in Montreal.

And, of course, the NHL insider, Frank Seravalli, did not waste any time to drop some tea. He went on to X and said, “O Canada draws a smattering of boos inside TD Garden in response to Star Spangled Banner treatment in Montréal.” The latest booing at the MSG proved that the whole booing debacle is far from over. As to how long it will continue, only time will tell.