USA v Canada ice hockey fight: Three fights in first nine seconds before US go on to win

US coach Mike Sullivan said: “I just think it’s very indicative of what this means to the players.

“There’s two teams out there that are very competitive, that have a ton of pride for their respective teams and their countries.

“For me, when you have an investment in trying to win like the way that it occurred, I think that’s an indication of it. What an incredible hockey game.”

Canada coach Jon Cooper, who is a two-time Stanley Cup winner, added: “It wasn’t planned.

“That wasn’t two coaches throwing guys over and saying ‘This is happening’ – none of that happened. That was as organic as it gets.”

The game had the added context of top NHL players having not played one another on an international stage for 10 years.

Traditionally the league’s best players skip the World Championships and the NHL did not send players to the 2018 or 2022 Winter Olympics.

Cooper added: “It was probably I guess 10 years of no international hockey exhaled in a minute and a half.”

The US confirmed their spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off final thanks to two goals from Jake Guentzel and another scored by Dylan Larkin, with Connor McDavid scoring for the hosts.

Canada face Finland on Monday in their final match of the pool stage, while the US play Sweden.