In overtime, Canada defeats the United States 3-2. Canada defeated Team USA 3-2 in the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game when Connor McDavid scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
Early in the first period, Nathan MacKinnon gave Canada the lead with a wrister through traffic, hitting Connor Hellebuyck high. After Brady Tkachuk stopped Auston Matthews’ wraparound effort late in the first, Team USA knotted the score.
Near the halfway mark of the second period, Jake Sanderson flicked in a rebound to end a tense passage and give the United States the lead. With six minutes left in the second half, Canada tied the score with a close-range, accurate shot by Sam Bennett.
This thrilling climax went into overtime after a scoreless third session, and Connor McDavid emerged victorious. He beat Hellebuyck and stunned the Americans after breaking away in the slot.
Tournament MVP Nathan MacKinnon revealed what made tonight’s championship game against the United States so special.
“It was a high-stakes game and it put a lot of the best players against each other,” he said in a postgame interview on ESPN.
The Canadians lost 3-1 to Team USA in round-robin play but exacted revenge tonight in a big way to lift the inaugural tournament trophy.
“We played well in the first meeting, but that was a crazy game,” MacKinnon said. “We didn’t know that there would be fighting like that but that is the beauty of hockey. (Team USA) could have won tonight, they had their chances but Jordan (Binnington) made saves, and Connor (McDavid) came up clutch there with the goal.”
