The 4 Nations Face-Off was a game-changer. How will the NHL capitalize on it -- and what comes next for its midseason events?

Either the U.S. or Canada claims the championship of the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off midseason tournament Thursday — but the league has already won. Why it matters: The tournament has delivered everything All-Star Games across sports have come to lack: The players care,

Canadian fans booed the American national anthem when the teams met in a round-robin match in Montreal, which was followed by three fights in the first nine seconds of the game.

The result was the culmination of a midseason tournament that featured stars from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States — and a surprisingly political atmosphere.

The 4 Nations Face-Off Final between Canada and USA, a thrilling contest won by the Canadians in overtime, was a massive boon for the sport of hockey and its viewership.