Canada vs. USA live score, updates, highlights from 2025 World Juniors hockey game | Sporting News

Canada. USA. New Year’s Eve. What more can you ask for?

The winner of Group A at the World Juniors will be decided tonight, as the victor of the matchup between the two rivals will earn the top spot in the group and the No.  1 seed in the knockout stage. Both Canada and the United States are tied with seven points, having each won twice in regulation while suffering one overtime/shootout loss. 

Team Canada is coming off a 3-0 win over Germany on Sunday. Dave Cameron’s team once again was stellar defensively, thanks to the performance in net by goalie Carter George. But the offensive struggles continued for the squad. Canada has just five goals in its last two games, which have come against Latvia and Germany, two countries that the home nation has historically handled with ease.

LIVE: Watch the 2025 World Juniors on Fubo (U.S. only)

Only two forwards have more than one point at the tournament for the Canadians — Easton Cowan, who leads the team with three, and Calum Ritchie with two. While the defense has yet to give up a goal at even strength, the scoring is a major issue for Canada, and it gets a big test against a USA team averaging six goals a game.   

The Americans fell to Finland 4-3 in overtime on Sunday, dropping their first contest at the World Juniors. David Carle’s crew is headlined by potential 2025 No. 1 pick James Hagens, who leads the team in points with six through three games. He makes up a third of the top line for the defending gold medalists, along with his Boston College teammates Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard.

The winner of tonight’s rivalry game will earn the top seed in the group, and date in the quarterfinals with Switzerland, the fourth seed in Group B. The loser will finish either second or third in Group A.

If it’s Canada that loses, a regulation loss leaves them at seven points and the No. 3 seed, as Finland has eight points following today’s win over Latvia and would finish second. If Canada loses in overtime or a shootout and picks up a point, it has the head-to-head tiebreaker over Finland and would end up second, bumping the Finns to third. 

Any loss for the United States, whether it be in regulation or overtime/shootout, would put the team in third. The Americans lost to the Finns, so Finland owns the tiebreaker. 

The No. 2 seed in Group A is set to play Slovakia in the quarterfinals, who are the No. 3 seed in Group B. The No. 3 seed from Group A faces Czechia, who is the No. 2 seed in Group B. 

The Sporting News is providing all the updates and highlights from the Canada vs. USA group play game at the 2025 World Juniors.

MORE: World Juniors standings, schedule, results

Canada vs. USA live score

Canada vs. USA live updates, highlights from 2025 World Juniors

(All times Eastern)

First period

8:19 p.m.: Neither side has looked particularly crisp through the first four minutes and change. It’s been back-and-forth, but both teams are turning the puck over and missing passes. 

8:11 p.m.: Puck is down and Canada vs. USA is on. First place in Group A will be decided soon. 

Pregame

7:46 p.m.: For Canada, the offense has to be better. There’s no sugarcoating it — the lack of scoring so far is concerning for the Canadians. The team is built to win low-scoring games, and it’s going to be hard to contain the USA offense. With that said, Canada has not allowed a goal at even strength, and if anyone can shut down the dynamic United States’ team, it’s the Canadian back end and goaltending. 

7:30 p.m.: The stars to watch on the United States side are the trio of James Hagens, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault. The top line consisting of Boston College teammates has been a force for David Carle’s squad so far, Hagens in particular. The 2025 draft prospect has six points in three games, leading the way for the defending gold medallists. 

7:08 p.m.: Here are the lines for the two sides. Carter George is expected to be in net for Canada, while Trey Augustine has the anticipated nod for the United States. 

Lines for Canada vs. USA. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/hpOY4JkSbI

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 31, 2024

7 p.m.: The last time these two teams faced was in the semifinals of the 2023 World Juniors. Canada defeated the United States 6-2 en route to a gold medal at the competition in Halifax. While Canada has a significant edge all time, owning 34 wins in 49 meetings, the two sides have split the last 10 games. 

6:45 p.m.: First place in Group A is on the line tonight. The winner of USA vs. Canada takes the top spot, and will face Switzerland, the fourth seed in Group B. If it’s the United States that lose in any fashion, they end up as the No. 3 seed. The Canadians need at least one point in order to finish as the No. 2 seed, otherwise a regulation loss drops them to the No. 3 seed.  

What channel is Canada vs. USA on today?

• TV channels: TSN (Canada) | NHL Network (United States)
• Live stream: TSN app (Canada) | Fubo (United States)

Canada vs. USA will air on TSN in Canada and NHL Network in the U.S.

Viewers can also stream the game on the TSN app in Canada and Fubo in the U.S.

Canada vs. USA start time

• Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31
• Time: 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT

Canada vs. USA will start at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 31. The game is being played at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, the home of the Senators. 

It marks the final game for both teams at the 2025 World Juniors. The winner of the contest will finish as the top seed in Group A and secure a No. 1 seed in the knockout stage. 

2025 World Juniors schedule

Thursday, Dec. 26

Friday, Dec. 27

Saturday, Dec. 28

Sunday, Dec. 29

Monday, Dec. 30

Tuesday, Dec. 31

Thursday, Jan. 2

Saturday, Jan. 4

Sunday, Jan. 5