More fireworks expected in emotional USA-Canada hockey rematch [Video]

Canada and the United States, whose inaugural fight-filled showdown set off emotional and political fireworks, meet for a rematch in Thursday’s NHL Four Nations Face-Off tournament final.

Canadian supporters booed the US national anthem before Saturday’s 3-1 American round-robin victory at Montreal, setting the stage for an explosive start that saw three fights erupt in the game’s first nine seconds.

More fist-flying mayhem is possible and another electric atmosphere is assured Thursday at Boston when the Canadians face their bitter border rivals for the championship.

“It just happens to be against the team that beat us after the fireworks that went off on Saturday night,” Canada coach Jon Cooper said. “So I think it should be a pretty good made-for-TV event.”

US coach Mike Sullivan expects another heated atmosphere.

“I would anticipate the next one will be every bit as competitive if not more,” he said. “The way that game was played, with the emotional investment on both …