(Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

BOSTON -- With apologies to Finland and Sweden, this is what most everyone wanted.

The championship of the first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off will come down to a United States-Canada rematch on Thursday night.

U.S. coach Mike Sullivan, a Massachusetts native, knows that this 'great hockey city' will be all charged up for the show. His team will be looking to double down against its archrival, having earned a 3-1 victory on Saturday in round-robin action in Montreal.

'It was a very competitive game the first game, and I would anticipate the next one will be every bit as competitive, if not more,' Sullivan said. 'It's a great celebration of hockey. There are some generational talents on both sides. ... I feel like I've got the best seat in the house behind the bench.'

Team USA could enter Thursday with roster-related questions due to injury and illness, including the Boston Bruins announcing that defenseman Charlie McAvoy remains in the hospital with an infection in his shoulder and a 'significant injury to his AC joint.' Talks to bring defenseman Quinn Hughes in from the Vancouver Canucks as a possible replacement were ongoing, but he was not medically cleared and won't join the team.

McAvoy, American captain Auston Matthews and the forward duo of brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk sat out Monday's 2-1 loss to Sweden. Sullivan expects all but McAvoy to play, including Brady Tkachuk, who missed Wednesday's practice.

Replacing McAvoy's ability -- especially after a strong physical performance against Canada -- will be challenging.

'He's a guy that brought it,' U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck said.

Regardless of how any lineup decisions shake out, the challenge will remain the same.

'Don't give 'em time and space. Stay above (Connor) McDavid and (Nathan) MacKinnon. Don't let them gain speed,' U.S. defenseman Jaccob Slavin said. 'That's what (defensemen) love to do, right? Play against the best guys in the world and try to shut them down.'

Canada's roster situation is more settled as defenseman Cale Makar returned from an illness for the final round-robin game against Finland. After missing the first U.S. matchup, the three-time All-Star and former Norris Trophy winner looks forward to getting his crack at a winner-take-all game in best-on-best play.

'Obviously, it's going to be a lot of fun,' Makar said. 'Big rivalry game. Excited to be out there with the group and battle hard. ... The passion runs deep for both sides.

'I know both teams are going to be really excited.'

Canada entered the tournament with significant big-game experience, including 15 of the 28 total Stanley Cup-winning players across the four rosters. Captain Sidney Crosby has three NHL championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins as well as two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada.

While Bruins captain Brad Marchand looks to help Canada in his home NHL building, teammates like the Florida Panthers' Sam Reinhart have played plenty of games at TD Garden as an opponent. Thursday is just another Game 7 type of assignment.

'Sometimes it's fun going into the fire on the road a little bit,' Reinhart said. 'It's a situation you want to be in, you have to earn to be in.'

As for Marchand, the 36-year-old is serving as more of a role player alongside the likes of Crosby, McDavid and MacKinnon. However, coach Jon Cooper had nothing but praise for his contributions to the Canadian national team.

'I can't say enough about what he's done not only on the ice, but off the ice, galvanizing this group, especially being in his home city here for a few days,' Cooper said.

'His heart is the shape of a maple leaf, and it's awesome to be around him,' he added earlier this week.

Cooper knows a Thursday win would have incredible meaning north of the border. Regardless of the result, though, the game of hockey is the winner, he said.

'It's been really cool for three or four days to see the whole world following this sport,' he said. 'We've built for this moment. ... Now we're here, and they know what they have to do to finish it off.'

--Joshua Kummins, Field Level Media