Connor McDavid is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game-winning goal during overtime of the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship game between Team Canada and Team United States at TD Garden on February 20, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images)
Connor McDavid etched his name in Canadian hockey history with a golden goal on Thursday in Boston, winning a game and a tournament that felt bigger than anything ever played in an All-Star break.
With the goal, Team Canada beat Team USA 3-2 in the first best-on-best championship game between the two countries since the 2010 Olympic gold medal game, which Canada won in overtime thanks to Sidney Crosby.
The first two periods were both even, with each team notching a goal in each frame. Nathan MacKinnon got Canada on the board with his fourth goal of the tournament, most of any player, but Brady Tkachuk answered back.
Tkachuk, who missed practice Wednesday with an illness, contributed a lot more than a goal, though. He was arguably the Americans’ most physical player, delivering multiplebig-time hits and setting the tone for the game.
Team USA took the lead in the second period on a Jake Sanderson goal, and then Sam Bennett tied it right back.
There was no scoring in the third period, as strong goaltending and high-effort defending took over. Both countries waited for that one last punch, but the high stakes naturally had to last until there was a tournament-winning golden goal on the line.
Even the overtime rules reflected how much each team wanted the win, as as there was no three-on-three hockey or a shootout. Just normal, sudden-death hockey, until one team wins.
This rematch came just five days after the U.S. beat Canada 3-1 in round-robin play in a game that was punctuated by three fights in the first nine seconds of play. En route to the championship game, Canada beat both Sweden and Finland, while the U.S. beat Finland but lost to Sweden on Monday, after their spot in the final was already clinched. The tournament replaced the NHL All-Star Game this year ahead of next year’s Winter Olympics in Milan, which NHL players will participate in for the first time since 2014.
Team Canada keeps its best-on-best event win streak alive. Champs in: 2025 4 Nations 2016 World Cup of Hockey 2014 Sochi Olympics 2010 Vancouver Olympics
“Connor McDavid etched his name in Canadian hockey history with a golden goal on Thursday in Boston, winning the All-Star break tournament that every player cared about.”
Connor McDavid wins the 4 Nations Final for Team Canada, winning the faceoff versus Auston Matthews, then getting a pass from Mitch Marner. He wrists it past Connor Hellebuyck in front of the net!
Jordan Binnington makes another great stop on Brady Tkachuk, this time with the glove. Then he makes the save on a slap shot by Auston Matthews.
Auston Matthews is denied by Jordan Binnington! Right at the net.
Connor McDavid trying to get the win for Canada early on, but had his shot blocked by Brock Faber.
The puck has dropped for overtime in Boston. USA 2, Canada 2 — next goal wins!
Who do you have for the overtime winner?
No 3-on-3 hocus pocus in overtime for this 4 Nations Face-Off Final, folks.
