"There's a reason behind it [the three fights in nine seconds]. Matthew mentioned it, but in a vague way, so we didn't fully understand at first.
But what I can tell you now is that they knew the American national anthem would be disrespected in this game, and that does not sit well in the U.S. locker room. They absolutely wanted to respond.
Everyone on Team USA agreed to initiate fights right at the beginning of the game, and that's why it happened."
- Renaud Lavoie, on TVA Sports, who also added that there could be other reasons.