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Connor McDavid scored the game-winning goal in overtime for Canada, lifting them to a 3-2 victory over Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game.
Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring for Canada early in the first period, firing a wrister through traffic and beating Connor Hellebuyck up high. Team USA tied the game late in the first after Brady Tkachuk cleaned up an Auston Matthews wraparound attempt.
The United States took the lead near the midway point of the second period as Jake Sanderson flicked in a rebound to cap off a hectic sequence. Canada equalized with six minutes remaining in the second on a precise Sam Bennett shot from close range.
After a scoreless third period, this intense finale went to overtime where Connor McDavid became the hero. He broke free in the slot before beating Hellebuyck and stunning the Americans.
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How Connor McDavid, Jordan Binnington lifted Canada to 4 Nations title over U.S.: Takeaways
Even before the puck dropped on Thursday’s final, the Americans and Canadians acknowledged the 4 Nations Face-Off had touched the sport in a way few events have.
“This tournament has had a huge impact on hockey, certainly in the United States. Without a question in North America. But maybe the world,” U.S. coach Mike Sullivan said. “These best-on-best tournaments bring out the best of the best. The commitment, the investment, that all of these teams have displayed every night, in my mind, has been an unbelievable celebration of hockey.
“It’s hard not to get excited about what we’re witnessing. I would envision tonight would be the pinnacle of that with Team USA and Canada competing for the championships.”
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During the third period, the TD Garden crowd started a “Johnny Hockey!” chant twice in honor of Johnny Gaudreau. The Americans kept the late forward’s No. 13 jersey in their dressing room during the tournament. They handed out Gaudreau’s jersey to the most deserving player after each win.
U.S. captain Auston Matthews gave Gaudreau’s uniform to Brady Tkachuk after the U.S.’s first win over Finland. Tkachuk presented it to Jake Guentzel after the Americans beat Canada at the Bell Centre.
Prior to the game, honorary USA captain Mike Eruzione emerged wearing a Gaudreau jersey.
Through regulation, Brock Faber (26:03) and Jaccob Slavin (25:10) led the Americans in ice time. Neither is known for having the up-ice skill of Zach Werenski, the team’s most dynamic defenseman. But the Slavin-Faber duo served as a thorough shutdown pair by being positionally sound, keeping tight gaps, angling opponents away from dangerous ice and moving pucks rapidly.
As proof of their defense-first worth, Faber had zero shots on net. Slavin had two. The coaching staff kept calling their numbers because of how well they checked.
Team USA tried to shelter Adam Fox on the No. 3 pair with Noah Hanifin. But the Canadians still targeted the right-shot defenseman in the second period leading up to the tying goal.
Fox tried to exit the zone with a long-distance pass up the ice. Sam Bennett intercepted the pass and started the counterattack.
Fox tried to gap up. But he took a long twirl, which allowed Bennett and Marner to gain the offensive zone with speed. Once Marner cut into the middle with the puck, Fox went with the forward. This allowed Marner to find a seam for Bennett on the left flank into the space Fox vacated. Bennett beat Hellebuyck, making the game 2-2. Through regulation, Bennett led all players with six shots on net.
Fox’s Olympic spot is not guaranteed given his lack of pace.
Brady Tkachuk was a monster this tournament. The Ottawa Senators captain scored in the first period. In the second period, his forechecking presence below the goal line opened up space for Jake Sanderson to score from between the dots. Brady Tkachuk and Matthews were the Americans’ two best forwards in the title game.
Matthew Tkachuk, however, was a shadow of his usual menacing self. He did not take a single shift in the third period or overtime. Tkachuk was on the bench cheering on his teammates.
In the second, he was limited to six shifts. One shift lasted just one second. He appeared to have little of his skating pop. He did not play against Sweden because of an undisclosed injury.
Late in the first period, the Americans flipped Matthews and Jack Eichel. The move paid off. On their second shift, Matthews and new wings Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk produced the tying goal.
Matthews started the play by picking off Devon Toews’ slow-moving pass to Cale Makar below the goal line. Matthews whirled around the net and threw the puck out front. Brady Tkachuk crashed the net and jammed the puck past Binnington.
Even after Matthew Tkachuk left the game, Matthews and Brady Tkachuk were a force together.
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In the first period, Werenski tried to go D-to-D deep in the defensive zone to Sanderson. Sam Reinhart made Werenski pay.
Reinhart anticipated the pass, picked off the puck below the goal line and went low to high to Thomas Harley at the left point. Once Harley handed the puck off to Nathan MacKinnon, Reinhart stayed in front of the net to screen Hellebuyck.
So when MacKinnon sifted a shot on net from above the tops of the circles, Reinhart’s screen helped limit Hellebuyck’s vision. The U.S. goalie did not appear to see MacKinnon’s shot until it was past him.
Charlie McAvoy was released from Massachusetts General Hospital on Thursday. The Team USA defenseman had been hospitalized since Monday because of an infection in his right shoulder.
McAvoy read the starting lineup for the Americans. The defenseman was wearing a sling. Several of his teammates gave McAvoy a standing ovation. Brady Tkachuk hugged McAvoy after he finished reading the lineup.
The Boston Bruins defenseman was injured on Feb. 13 in the U.S.-Finland game. McAvoy suffered a significant injury to the AC joint in his right shoulder. He has been ruled out from his club team’s game on Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks. The Bruins do not expect McAvoy to play next week either.
Jon Cooper says this win means a lot for Canada. Not just for their team but for their country. A lot of national pride in his voice as he described what this meant.
With his game-winning goal tonight, Connor McDavid became just the second player to score an overtime winner to clinch an NHL international tournament, following Darryl Sittler nearly 50 years ago at the inaugural event, the 1976 Canada Cup.
And with Canada's victory, Sidney Crosby became just the second player to captain multiple champion teams at NHL international tournaments, joining Wayne Gretzky (1987 and 1991).
Speaking after the game, Mike Sullivan praised Brock Faber: "Brock Faber, in my mind, is an emerging star. How old is he, 22? And the stage wasn't too big for a guy like that. I was so impressed with his maturity."
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Dylan Larkin also said that he hopes that American players who weren't included in the 4 Nations Face-Off roster are eager to be part of the program long-term.
"We've had a tough time with USA Hockey getting guys to play in the World Championships. Guys who are at home watching this, I hope they're wanting a piece of it. They've got to go to the World Championships and prove themselves and play for their country. We've got to start winning that tournament.
"And I think that's where, you know, Canada, those guys go and they play," he added. "And that's where it starts. Pride for your country. Pride for the flag. Putting that crest on and going out for a game is just an unbelievable feeling. This grew the game really well, but I hope it pushes guys to want a piece of this."
Players often skip the annual World Championship tournament as it takes place during the early round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Dylan Larkin already has one eye on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
"There is something to look forward to with this group, which is great. (The Olympic Games are) the big one. And I know that it's a little bit of a different tournament, different rules, but we really feel like we can play any kind of game on any kind of surface and anywhere against anyone."
This tournament was a nice taste of international hockey with NHL players. It really amps up the hype for the Olympics next year and the World Cup of Hockey in 2028.
Until then, let's see how the NHL can build on the momentum this tournament generated. Hockey is in the national spotlight in the U.S. after this.
Matthew Tkachuk limping very badly out of the rink.
Here is a look at each team's top goaltender performed in this tournament:
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Here are the final stat leaders from the 4 Nations Face-Off:
Goals: Nathan MacKinnon (Canada): 4 goals
Assists Zach Werenski (USA): 6 assists
Points Zach Werenski (USA): 6 points
Tim B.: In hindsight, losing track of McDavid seems like a poor decision.
Shelbydechant26: Watching from Canada and truly I don’t think the country has felt this Canadian and united in a long time. Feels good – leave it up to hockey.
Daniel C.: McDavid was a good choice for player of the game, but I would have voted for Binnington. Those OT saves were amazing. And especially how all the hockey commentators were roasting our goaltending pre-tournament.
Michael W.: Insane game. So much fun, can’t even be mad we lost. Would’ve hurt a lot more if it was the Olympics. Huge props to Binnington, he saved Canada in OT.
David L.: Great hockey. When Makar looks good but not otherworldly fast you know there is a lot of talent in the ice. Best hockey I have ever seen. Credit to all the players for caring so much. Congrats Canada. Cant wait for the Olympics.
Auston Matthews rued the chances to win the game in overtime that the U.S. failed to take.
"We had the opportunities to end it in overtime but it didn't happen," Matthew said to reporters after the game. "I am still proud of these guys though, they gave 100%."
Matthews, who served as Team USA captain, relished the opportunity to represent his country on the international stage.
"It meant a lot to wear this jersey and represent our country," he said. "It definitely is a special honor and something I won't take for granted."