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.

When the puck dropped in Montreal’s Bell Centre on Saturday night, Team Canada’s Brandon Hagel dropped his gloves along with Team USA’s Matthew Tkachuk. It was the first of three fights that took place between the hockey rivals in nine seconds for their 4 Nations Face-Off matchup.

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,

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.

From the first punch to when the linesmen jumped in, the fight between Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel lasted 25 seconds. The war of words that followed entered its fifth day on Wednesday. In the round-robin game between Team USA and Canada in the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday in Montreal,

Who better to author it than Canada forward Brandon Hagel, who dropped the gloves with U.S. forward Matthew Tkachuk just two seconds into a 3-1 loss at Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday? "We're out there playing for a flag,

Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre.

Hagel, of course, had a starring role in the first Canada-USA game Saturday in Montreal, dropping the gloves with Matthew Tkachuk off the opening faceoff and riling up the crowd afterward by throwing both hands in the air.

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.

Canadian forward Brandon Hagel said the animosity at the start of the game wasn't just for showmanship. When the Americans and Canadians met on Saturday night, a 3-1 win for the U.S., there were three fights in the first nine seconds of the game.

Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel added fuel to the fire with direct jabs at each other ahead of the 4 Nations Final between Team USA and Team Canada.