MONTREAL — Canada boarded its plane in the wee hours of Sunday morning feeling confident.

The men’s national team also has little margin for error as the 4 Nations Face-Off shifts to Boston.

Hours earlier, Canada fell 3-1 to the archrival United States inside an incandescent Bell Centre that witnessed three fights in a chaotic opening nine seconds.

When the game finally settled down after the card of Brandon Hagel (Canada) versus Matthew Tkachuk (U.S.), Sam Bennett (Canada) versus Matthew Tkachuk (U.S.), and Colton Parayko (Canada) versus J.T. Miller (U.S.) wrapped up, the team with the red Maple Leaf on its chest jumped out to a 1-0 lead.