Hockey fans wanted this inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off final to be epic, and that's exactly what they got as Team Canada defeated Team USA in overtime. Connor McDavid scored the game-winning goal to give his country the ultimate bragging rights in this intense matchup.
Everyone wondered what would happen at the opening puck drop following the three fights in nine seconds that occurred this past Saturday in Montreal between these two countries. But it was a normal start to a hockey game, as gloves stayed on sticks and both teams got down to business.
However, there was something similar to the last game, as it was Team Canada getting on the board first thanks to Nathan MacKinnon’s nifty wrister nearly five minutes into the period. Team USA starting netminder Connor Hellybuyck was completely shielded by numerous players from both countries in the shooting lane, and that was MacKinnon’s idea as he skated to the middle and threw the wrister toward net.
It was perfect placement, as there was no deflection as it went past Hellybuyck’s right shoulder. Thomas Harley and Sam Reinhart received assists on the goal. But Team USA responded with three unanswered goals after going down 1-0, and they went to start that trend again.
Brady Tkachuk, one of the fighters at the Bell Centre on Saturday, got the job done on an Auston Matthews pass to the middle of the ice. With three Team Canada players around their crease, Tkachuk fought through them all and managed to get just enough stick on the puck to tie the game.
In the second period, Tkachuk’s forecheck was fantastic behind the net as he ultimately set up a goal by Jake Sanderson, who buried a wrister on another assist from Matthews as well as defenseman Zach Werenski.
Sam Bennett tied it up with a perfectly placed wrister over the shoulder of Hellybuyck that was set up by Mitch Marner. With the game tied at two goals apiece, the matchup was set up for a rowdy third period in Boston.
Bonus hockey with an overtime period only felt right in the end, and despite each team's greatness, the better squad won in the best way possible.
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