USA vs. Canada Starts with 3 Fights at 4 Nations Face-Off, Leaves NHL Fans Energized

There were three fights in the first nine seconds of Saturday night's 4 Nations Face-Off game between the United States and Canada.

The puck had barely hit the ice before Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel were dropping the gloves:

Brady Tkachuk got in on the action as he took on Sam Bennett two seconds of game time later:

Only five more seconds ticked off the clock before J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko started their own bout.

It was a hot start to one of the most highly-anticipated hockey games of the year.

Even head coaches Jon Cooper and John Tortorella were getting heated after the penalty-ridden opening seconds.

The NHL hasn't been involved in best-on-best international hockey since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

The biggest rivalry game in recent history between these two games was the gold medal game at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where the United States gave up a one-goal lead in the final minute of regulation.

Sidney Crosby, who is now captaining Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off, scored in overtime to earn Canada the Olympic gold.

Most of Team USA's players weren't on the ice for Crosby's golden goal, but it appeared the animosity between these two teams hasn't faded in the 15 years since.

Hockey fans looking for more rivalry action will hope these two teams finish the Round Robin at the top of the 4 Nations Face-Off standings in order to meet one more time in Thursday's championship game.