Canada holds an 8-1 edge against Sweden in best-on-best play, its only loss a 4-2 round-robin defeat at the 1984 Canada Cup at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. Historically outscoring Sweden 37-20, Canada has twice won by shutout -- Rogie Vachon in 1976, and 4-0 in the 1991 Canada Cup, also at Maple Leaf Gardens, backstopped by Bill Ranford.

Instead of an All-Star Weekend, the NHL will hold the 4 Nations Face-Off — a tournament between four of the world’s top hockey powers.

It’s almost time for the opening puck drop in the 4 Nations Face-Off. The NHL’s midseason international tournament featuring Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States begins on Wednesday night in Montreal.

The 4 Nations Face-Off features most of the best players from Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland, and gives stars like Connor McDavid, San Ramon-born Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mikko Rantanen a chance to play in this type of event for the first time in their professional careers.

The 4 Nations Face-Off starts Wednesday and features all-star talent while the NHL takes a two-week break. The tournament will showcase some of the best players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the USA.