Boston has seen some electric nights in hockey. But the 4 Nations Final offered something unique—on and off the ice. As the Americans played their hearts out in TD Garden, just a few city blocks away, The Greatest Bar hosted the ultimate hockey fan experience, and Americans and Canadians came together in their love of the game.

One moment, the arena resembled a battlefield of patriotism and division; the other, Boston pubs hosted the world’s block party. While tensions ran high in TD Garden, the atmosphere at The Greatest Bar could not be any livelier. NHL vet Colby Armstrong described the raucous video in just a few short words, accompanied by a clip from the scene:

“This was an insane meet-up. The Greatest Bar was insanely slammed. Canadians and Americans together. Tunes were pumping. @pinkwhitney was flowing. Just wild. I got a video of a guy dumping a full beer on his own head.”

The packed tavern was in good spirits, clinking cups, joking, and cheering in solidarity. Pink Whitney shots ran around the clock, thanks to Murls. The energy of the evening was infectious, to the say the least. Whether you donned a McDavid jersey or a Team USA Hockey hoodie, you belonged to the same party.

And although one set of fans would have ended the night with disappointment, the story from The Greatest Bar was more about the spirit of community and the coming together of two opposite sides. The event tonight was less about the score and more about the experience. Again, the passion for the game won the day.

TD Garden told a different story of the 4 Nations Face-Off final

While the bar was all about good energy and camaraderie, the TD Garden experience paled in comparison. The American-Canadian rivalry ranks among the most storied in the world of hockey, and the off-ice drama only fueled the fire in this instance. American spectators booed during O Canada—retribution, some claim, to the manner in which “The Star-Spangled Banner” was booed in Montreal throughout the tournament.

Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk did what many others could only wish to, making a clever adjustment to the lyrics to “O Canada” in response to the 51st state remark by Trump. It was a bold move, and social media went into a tizzy immediately. And hockey great and Team USA honorary captain Mike Eruzione came out on the ice with an emotional tribute paid to the late Johnny Gaudreau. But when the real action did finally begin, it was all about the hockey—and Connor McDavid’s OT goal sealed the victory in dramatic fashion.

Despite the boos, the chirps, and the patriotism in the air in the arena, the evening ended in a different manner just outside. Indeed, the rivalries are certainly important, but the sport can also be the fastest to get people to bond.

The 4 Nations Face-Off final supplied all the drama—on the ice and in the pubs. The patriotism between the countries created a sense of rivalry in TD Garden, but just outside, in the pubs along the street, the crowd’s collective cheers at Boston’s bars all testified to the truth that despite how rough the game gets, people are actually brought together by the sport. Rivalries are briefly set aside and it’s the passion that brings people together.