Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime as Canada defeated the United States 3-2 in a riveting 4 Nations Face-Off final Thursday.
The Edmonton Oilers captain took a pass from Mitch Marner in front and ripped a shot past Connor Hellebuyck to set off wild celebrations.
Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett had the goals in regulation for the Canadians, with Marner recording two assists. A stellar Jordan Binnington made 31 saves.
McDavid was named game MVP, while MacKinnon was named tournament MVP.
WATCH | McDavid the OT hero as Canada downs U.S. in 4 Nations Face-Off final:
Canada defeats the United States 3-2 in overtime as Connor McDavid scores the winner in the 4 Nations Face-Off final.
“Just to see the reaction. Just to know what it means to us. I know it’s just a quick tournament, and it’s not an Olympic gold medal or anything like that, but it means the world to our group, as you can see,” McDavid said.
“I hope [the new fans] love it,” he said. “It’s a great game, it’s a great sport and I hope we put on a good show these last couple days and gained some fans, ultimately. You can’t ask for a better show than that.”
The game that had the North American sporting world’s attention was played against the backdrop of heightened political tensions between the countries.
Canada head coach Jon Cooper discussed the weight of the victory afterwards.
“Canada needed a win, and the players beared that on their shoulders, and took it seriously,” he said.
“This one was different. This wasn’t a win for themselves. This was a win for 40-plus million people. And the guys knew it, and they delivered.”
WATCH | Binnington makes brilliant glove save on Tkachuk in OT:
Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington denies Brady Tkachuk with an outstanding glove save during overtime of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened sanctions and repeatedly mused — including Thursday on social media — about making his country’s northern neighbour and close ally the “51st state.”
Trump also posted on Truth Social he would be watching the game. Added White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt: “And we look forward to the United States beating our soon-to-be 51st state, Canada.”
After the game, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded with a post of his own on X.
“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.”
You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.
—@JustinTrudeau
“A lot of stuff going on with Canada and the USA right now, and us playing against each other was kind of a perfect storm for our sport,” said Nathan MacKinnon. “It was much more popular than even we would have imagined. It was getting so much attention from our whole continent.”
The U.S. was without injured defenceman Charlie McAvoy — Sanderson took his place in the lineup for a second straight game — while Canadian counterpart Josh Morrissey was a late scratch for Thomas Harley because of illness.
Canada did have Cale Makar after he missed his country’s 3-1 preliminary round loss to the Americans on Saturday in Montreal, another mouth-watering encounter that included three fights in the game’s first nine seconds, also due to illness.
Canada put its 15-year streak of topping high-level international competitions involving NHL players on the line after winning Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014, and claiming the 2016 World Cup. Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 in overtime on Sidney Crosby’s golden goal at the Vancouver Games in 2010.
The league missed the last two Olympics, but will return in 2026 in Milan-Cortina, Italy, after the 4 Nations — which also included Sweden and Finland — set the table with stirring theatre in both Montreal and Boston. Russia was banned from this event due to its war in Ukraine, while reigning world champion Czechia didn’t make the cut.
Jersey-clad fans from both countries gathered in the streets and bars around TD Garden in the hours before Thursday’s puck drop. Plenty had signs, including one from a Canadian fan that read: “Welcome to the U.S.A. Canada’s 11th province.”
The electric atmosphere inside the building started with jeers for the team in red and chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” during warm-ups.
“O Canada” was loudly booed inside the arena by American fans in response to “The Star-Spangled Banner” getting similar treatment in Montreal earlier in the event, and at recent NHL and NBA games across Canada in response to Trump’s threats.
Wayne Gretzky and Mike Eruzione, captain of the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic team, served as honorary captains.
MacKinnon opened the scoring at 4:48 of the first when he took a pass along the boards and wheeled into the high slot before firing his tournament-leading fourth goal through traffic on Hellebuyck.
Tkachuk tied it at 16:52 from in tight after Matthews tried to jam in a wraparound.
The second period saw a couple of terrific early chances. Mark Stone had a shot just dribble wide for Canada, while Binnington stretched to deny Jack Hughes.
Sanderson gave the Americans, who received a five-minute call from Trump in the locker room Thursday morning, their first lead at 7:32 when he fired past the Canadian netminder.
The edge-of-your-seat third included Brandon Hagel tipping a Makar point shot off the post and a couple of in-tight looks off American sticks before Marner had the puck on his stick in a dangerous position in the dying seconds of regulation.
Matthews had another great opportunity in the extra period that Binningon denied on the doorstep and another on Tkachuk. Binnington then snagged another Matthews effort.
“We wanted this one,” Canada forward Mark Stone said.
“You’ve got 40 million Canadians, sitting at home, and you feel the energy. Anytime you have the chance to play for our country, or the flag on our chest, it’s a special, special feeling. … It brings us together. And just glad we got to get this one.”
WATCH | Ron MacLean weighs in on fierce Canada-U.S. rivalry:
The fierce hockey rivalry between Canada and the U.S. will be on display tonight at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament championship game in Boston. Sports commentator Ron MacLean, best known as the host of Hockey Night in Canada from 1986 to 2014, says in regards to the booing at the last game ‘people just want to be heard.’ MacLean adds his take on which players could help Canada get the win.
Trump’s pre-game call to Team USA
The U.S. president spoke to the American team via general manager Bill Guerin’s cellphone.
“It was a distinct honour,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of hearing from Trump. “We have a locker room full of proud Americans. When the president of the United States takes the time out of his busy schedule to say a few words to our guys, I know it meant a lot to every one of us.”
Canadian forward Seth Jarvis had some support in the stands. The Winnipeg native said five friends he’s known since minor hockey made the roughly 30-hour drive from the Manitoba capital to Boston.
“Shows how crazy Canadians are,” said the 23-year-old. “It means a lot to everybody. That’s just a really good example.”