For 68 minutes Thursday night, the United States had just about completely shut down the best player in the world. Just over eight minutes into overtime, however, they left him open in the slot. Connor McDavid did not allow the Americans to survive the momentary breakdown, as he ripped a shot past Connor Hellebuyck’s glove to lift Canada to a 3-2 win in the 4 Nations Face-Off final at TD Garden.
The Americans had their chances in overtime. Auston Matthews, arguably the best goal-scorer in the world, had a few all by himself. But Jordan Binnington stood tall in Canada’s net, breaking the hearts of a TD Garden crowd just like he did with the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final.
The game had lived up to the hype. That it went to overtime was only fitting. This tournament, which had exceeded all expectations as it – and this rivalry, in particular – brought hockey into the mainstream, deserved this kind of thrilling finish.
The Americans, who beat Canada on Saturday night in Montreal, thought it was their time. They believed Thursday night would be the crowning achievement of a generation that had closed the gap on Canada at the junior level and was ready to pass their rivals to the north at the senior level.
The Canadians had other ideas. Just as they did in the 2010 Olympics, they bounced back from a group stage loss to the U.S. and beat the Americans in overtime when it mattered most. They won their fourth straight international best-on-best tournament in the process. The U.S. and the rest of the world will have to wait until next year’s Olympics in Italy for another shot at knocking Canada off its hockey throne.
The atmosphere in TD Garden Thursday night was as electric as anticipated, with the first “USA” chants beginning even before warmups. USA Hockey legend Mike Eruzione pumped the crowd up as the Americans’ honorary captain, while wearing a Johnny Gaudreau USA jersey. The U.S. has kept Gaudreau’s jersey hanging in their locker room all tournament, honoring their friend and teammate who probably would have been playing in this tournament had he not been killed in an accident in August.
The much-anticipated anthem reaction featured some boos at the start of “O Canada,” but they eventually let up and even gave way to Canadian fans singing along. The majority American crowd sung along for the entirety of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which was performed by the Boston Pops, before segueing right into another raucous “USA” chant.
Canada quieted the crowd a bit with the opening goal 4:48 into the game, as Nathan MacKinnon wheeled into the high slot and beat Connor Hellebuyck through traffic for his fourth goal of the tournament. Canada had a couple great chances to extend the lead, but Hellebuyck made a couple point-blank saves on Seth Jarvis and then Sam Bennett to keep it a one-goal game.
Team USA tied the game with 3:08 left in the first when Auston Matthews set up Brady Tkachuk right in front for his third goal of the tournament. That came just a couple shifts after USA coach Mike Sullivan had decided to flip his top two centers, putting Matthews between the Tkachuk brothers, and Jack Eichel with Jake Guentzel and Jack Hughes.
The Americans then took the lead 7:32 into the second when defenseman Jake Sanderson pounced on a loose puck in the slot and fired it past Jordan Binnington. Sanderson only got into the USA lineup when Charlie McAvoy went down with an injury, and he may very well have been the one to draw back out if Quinn Hughes had been able to join the team and play this week. Funny how that works out.
Canada got the game’s first power play shortly after that goal, but an excellent U.S. penalty kill held Canada’s superstar to one shot on goal. North Chelmsford native and former BU Terrier Jack Eichel was especially good, blocking a Cale Makar shot that broke his stick and then kicking away a Nathan MacKinnon seam pass while playing without a stick.
While the Canadians didn’t score there, they did eventually tie the game with 6:00 left in the second. After Adam Fox turned over a stretch pass into the neutral zone, Canada countered on a 3-on-2. Mitch Marner drew Fox to the middle before leaving a pass behind for Sam Bennett, who roofed a shot over Hellebuyck’s shoulder.
The U.S. suffered a blow in the second period with Matthew Tkachuk exiting the game. He went nearly seven minutes without a shift at one point, then took one 23-second shift late in the period, during which he clearly wasn’t moving well. That was the last shift he would play; while he was on the bench the rest of the game cheering on his teammates, he did not see the ice again. Tkachuk also didn’t finish Saturday’s game against Canada after suffering some sort of injury – likely the same one he’s still dealing with – and then sat out Monday’s loss to Sweden.
Neither team scored in the third period. The U.S. outshot Canada 8-4 in the frame and had the better chances, but couldn’t beat Binnington. At the other end, Bruins captain Brad Marchand nearly set up Seth Jarvis for a great chance, but Jaccob Slavin made a great sliding block on his Carolina teammate, adding to his great defensive play throughout this tournament.
This best-on-best tournament required extra time, and it was ultimately the best of the best, Connor McDavid, who ended it.