10.1 million North American viewers tuned in for last Saturday’s USA-Canada game at the 4 Nations Face-Off — topping every non-Stanley Cup Final game since 2014. No doubt, Thursday night’s championship rematch may double that viewership by the time the numbers are announced. For comparison, 4.7 people watched this season’s NBA all-star game, 6 million people watched last year’s NFL Pro Bowl and 7.4 million viewers watched Fox’s MLB’s baseball All-Star game last season.

Why is this NHL-hosted hockey tournament striking a chord for hockey fans and casual observers alike? Sure, nationalism (and politics this time around) is a huge contributor to the interest. However, there is a reason why hockey is the perfect vessel for that passion.

In Thursday’s final, several players wore their country’s colors through injuries and illness which may delay their return to NHL regular season play. This displays hockey’s greatest characteristic – everyone is expected to compete to the best of their ability.

4 Nations is proof that fans are willing to pay for top-flight effort, too. On Ticketmaster, the cheapest ticket was $925. The most expensive tickets were upwards of $5,000 to $6,500 depending on the ticketing platform. Two tickets at center ice were on sale for $10,000 each on Ticketmaster.

Hockey has always focused on international games starting with the youth IIHF World Championships. The Olympics add additional fuel to international rivalries. Oh, and of course, the recent  ’51st state’ rhetoric only ratcheted up what was already sure to be an emotional clash. Presidential pep talks (Trump) and attendance (Trudeau) at the games whipped up the national fervor.

Hockey’s speed, physical nature and international composition created the ideal formula for a dramatic storyline for viewers, especially this Thursday night. The contrast became even more evident as the showdown between the USA and Canada shifted from Montreal to Boston’s TD Garden. The rematch came on the heels of a heated game that not only lived up to the pre-game hype, but surpassed it. Three fights in the opening nine seconds set an emotional tone and Team Canada ignited the Bell Centre crowd with a beautiful goal less than six minutes in, but the U.S. would rally for a 3-1 victory to ensure itself a spot in the championship game.

In the Thursday finale, the Avs’ Nathan McKinnon sent a seeing-eye snipe through traffic to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. USA’s Brady Tkachuk cleaned up a deflected wrap-around attempt, 1-1. In the second period, Jake Sanderson found the biscuit in traffic and buried the go-ahead goal, 2-1, USA. On a clean break down ice, the puck was rifled off Sam Bennett stick in the right slot for the equalizer, 2-2. The third period was end-to-end hockey as the USA seemed to control the pace but neither team could find a goal in regulation.

In overtime, the USA took over but Canadian keeper Jordan Binnington stopped three grade-A chances. Canada finished off the Americans as Connor McDavid was wide open thanks to a massive Auston Matthews mistake for the winning goal, 3-2.

For two nights in February, hockey was America’s game. Unlikely, yes. Unforgettable, yes. And the winner? The game of hockey.