Matthew Tkachuk laughed at Brandon Hagel saying Canadian players "don't have any group chats going on" after Americans texted about plans for game-opening fights before winning Saturday's 4 Nations Face-Off rivalry matchup.

On a team of superstars, players such as Brandon Hagel can get overlooked. That is just as true with the Tampa Bay Lightning as it is with Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. So, Hagel took advantage of an off day at the tournament to step into the spotlight and throw some gas on what was already a raging bonfire ahead of Canada’s rematch with the United States in Thursday’s tournament final.

Canada's Brandon Hagel (38) and United States' Noah Hanifin (15) battle in front of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during third period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, Feb.

Not long after the United States' national anthem was booed again in Montreal, Team USA and Canada engaged in three fights in the first period of their 4 Nations Face-Off game, including the first feud between Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel,

Team Canada's Brandon Hagel said fighting Team USA's Matthew Tkachuk was "for the flag," not "for the cameras," on Saturday in their 4 Nations Face-Off game.

Canada is taking its 4 Nations Face-Off victory lap to a place its U.S. rivals know quite well. Not long after topping Team USA in overtime on Thursday in a dazzling championship clash, 3-2, Canadian forward and Lightning star Brandon Hagel took to his Instagram Stories and shared a screenshot of the victors’ group chat — a digital element that became a point of contention between the clubs during the tournament.

The highly anticipated game Saturday night between the United States and Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off started with three fights in the first nine seconds. Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel dropped the gloves just after the puck was dropped to start play.

Not long after the United States national anthem was booed again in Montreal, Team USA and Canada engaged in three fights in the first period of their 4 Nations Face-Off game, including the first feud between Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel.

Hagel dropped the gloves with Team USA's Matthew Tkachuk as soon as the puck hit the center-ice face-off dot, and that kicked off a chain reaction. All of that ruckus was preceded by Canadian fans booing the U.

Brayden Point scores a goal and Brandon Hagel has an assist as Jon Cooper’s team bounces back from Saturday’s loss to the United States.

Dylan Larkin scored the go-ahead goal in the second period as the U.S. beat Canada 3-1 after a punch-filled start that saw three fights within nine seconds to open the countries' electric matchup at the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal.

Matthew Tkachuk heard the gist of Brandon Hagel's comments from Tuesday, when the Canada forward said he and his teammates play for the flag and not the cameras, that they don't need group chats to initiate their passion for playing for the country.