**VGK Faces Mixed Results as 4Nations Kicks Off.**

VGK Faces Mixed Results as 4Nations Kicks Off.

**Excellence and Misfortune in Mark VGK’s Debut at 4 Nations Face-Off**

Opening night of the 4 Nations Face-Off featured both great performances and tough breaks for the Vegas Golden Knights.

VGK captain Mark Stone stunned everyone by scoring a goal for Canada in a thrilling 4-3 overtime win against Sweden. Playing alongside Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon, Stone looked sharp and in sync with two of hockey’s biggest names.

On the other side, defenseman Shea Theodore’s night ended in the first period due to an upper-body injury. Canada head coach Jon Cooper later confirmed that Theodore’s tournament was over, and the Golden Knights announced he would be out on a week-to-week basis.

Despite some tense moments, Team Canada managed to score two crucial points. Mitch Marner sealed the win with a precise shot past Sweden’s Filip Gustavsson that sent the Canadian crowd into a frenzy. Sidney Crosby was the game’s most impressive player, dishing out three assists and earning the title of the night’s Most Outstanding Player. ### WHAT WE SAW AND HEARD **STONE ON A ROLL** Mark Stone is one of the NHL’s most reliable outlet passers. Few can match his ability to retrieve the puck from the wall and find a teammate flying through the neutral zone. His defensive instincts and quick stickwork have consistently placed him at the top of the league. Canada’s third goal highlighted Stone at his best. After stealing the puck from William Nylander in the defensive zone, he hit Crosby with a perfect pass. Crosby stormed down the right wing, paused at the circle and spun back to find a charging Stone. Stone’s quick-release shot found the back of the net, stunning Gustavsson.

“When Sid gets going, it’s impossible to take the puck away from him,” Stone said. “He draws defenders and finds those soft spots for the pass. I just tried to get the puck off my stick as fast as I could, and it worked.”

**Overtime Drama**
Canada built leads of 2-0 and 3-1 before Sweden rallied to force overtime. The competitiveness of the tournament became evident as the momentum shifted back and forth.

“Anything can happen here,” said one observer. “Canada and the U.S. may be more talented, but every team is a threat.”

The 3-on-3 overtime format was a hit for the shorter tournament, but extending NHL regular-season overtime from five to 10 minutes may be a stretch. Nathan MacKinnon, visibly exhausted after Marner’s winning goal, expressed concern about the toll it could take over a longer season.

**A GREAT MOMENT**
The captains of each team were joined by national legends in a pre-game ceremony. Canada’s Sidney Crosby joined Montreal legend Mario Lemieux to a rousing reception. As chants of “Mario, Mario” turned to “Crosby, Crosby,” the torch-passing moment between the two Canadian hockey legends was unforgettable.

“It was unreal,” Stone said. “Seeing Sid and Mario together gave me goosebumps. It’s something I’ll always remember.”

**POWER PLAY PERFECTION**
Canada’s power play, loaded with Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, Sam Reinhart and Cale Makar, wasted no time. Just 12 seconds into their first power play, MacKinnon finished off a perfect setup from Crosby. “When you have that much talent on the ice, it’s pure magic,” Stone joked. “When they start moving the puck like that, it’s a thing of beauty.”