‘This was a win for 40-plus million people’: Canada defeats U.S. in Overtime to Claim 4 Nations Gold

BOSTON — Once again, Canada sits atop the hockey world. 

Rivalry and hatred between the two teams, two nations, have been at an all time high. This tournament meant more than just hockey.

15 years after current team Canada captain Sidney Crosby scored one of the biggest golden goals in hockey history at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics — in a 3-2 overtime win over the Americans — Connor McDavid, the Richmond Hill, ON. native who has been searching for that “big” moment, scored the golden goal to win Canada the 4 Nations Face-Off title — in a 3-2 overtime win over the Americans.

“He’s a big game player,” Crosby said of McDavid. “He’s proven that throughout his career. I’m sure this one means a lot to him. It meant a lot to us.”

It certainly felt like a passing of the torch moment for McDavid, who was 13 when Crosby won Canada the gold in Vancouver, to score the winner. However that isn’t how he sees it.

“Well I think you’re going to see Sid in 12 Months [at the Olympics]  so I don’t think this is the passing of any torch,” said the 28-year-old. “Sid had a great tournament. He was a big part of our group and we’ll see him in a year’s time.” 

“It seems for him, it’s really fitting,” Crosby added on McDavid scoring the winner. “The level that he plays at, he’s got that ability every single night to change a game. He’s proven it time and time again, and he proved it in one of the biggest moments tonight.”

With best-on-best international hockey back after nearly a decade without NHL participation, Canada continued where they left off, winning. 

Including the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off — a designated NHL international tournament — Canada has won the past four international competitions involving NHL players: claiming Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014, and winning the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Like they did on Saturday in round-robin play against the Americans, Canada opened the scoring 4:48 into the first thanks to a beautiful goal from Nathan MacKinnon.

MacKinnon swiftly skated around the U.S. zone before wiring a shot over Connor  to put Canada up 1-0 with his fourth goal of the tournament. 

Canada continued to press the Americans with quality chances around the goal. Luckily for the Americans, Hellebuyck used all of his 6’4 frame to stand his ground and keep it a one-goal game.

A once lively TD Garden crowd became quiet after the Canadians opened the scoring. 

Brady Tkachuk fixed that issue.

After a wrap-around attempt by team USA’s captain Auston Matthews left the puck sitting in front of Jordan Binnington’s goal, the younger Tkachuk brother buried his third goal of the tournament.  

When the Americans took down Canada 2-1 on Saturday in Montreal, they scored two unanswered goals after Connor McDavid opened the scoring in the first. 

In Thursday’s rematch, team USA once again took the lead in the second period. 

Jake Sanderson, who was a late addition to the American roster after it was deemed that defenseman Quinn Hughes wasn’t fit to play, scored his first goal of the tournament 7:32 into the second to put the U.S. up 2-1. 

The United States flipped the script, again.

Sam Bennett was a healthy scratch in Canada’s opener against the Swedes. After making his 4 Nations debut last Saturday against the Americans in Montreal, the Florida Panthers forward remained in the Canadian lineup. His physicality was a big addition to the Canadian roster — it’s why he made the team. 

A big-game performer in his own right, Bennett, a 2024 Stanley Cup champion with the Panthers, tied the game with six minutes to go in the second. 

Mitch Marner threaded a tight angle pass to a net-bound Bennett, who roofed the equalizer over Hellebuyck, making it 2-2 with his first goal of the tournament. 

This score would remain until McDavid’s eventual OT winner, which was his third goal of the tournament. 

“I just hope Canada is proud,” head coach Jon Cooper said in his postgame press conference. “Every player in that room is proud to be a Canadian. And yea, did we need a win? Not only our team, but Canada needed a win.”

“This one was different. This wasn’t a win for themselves (the players). This was a win for 40-plus million people. The guys knew it and they delivered.”