It all came down to this. The inaugural 4Nations Face-Off Tournament finals, with the only two nations that would make sense. Team Canada vs. Team USA. It sure didn’t disappoint.

Before the game, it was mentioned that Josh Morrissey would miss this game due to an illness and that Thomas Harley would slot in. On the American side, Kyle Connor would be scratched this game in favor of Chris Krieder.

Canada was able to notch the first goal of the game, when Nathan MacKinnon gave Canada a 1-0 lead 4:48 into the period, scoring from the point with a wrist shot through traffic. Sam Reinhart got himself and his defender in front of the net to block Hellebuyck, and MacKinnon took advantage of the blockage. Smart play from both men to give Canada an early lead.

Team USA didn’t take too long to get on the scoreboard, when Brady Tkachuk scored with less than 4 minutes remaining. Auston Matthews got the puck behind the net and wrapped it around the right post to Tkachuk, who got enough on his shot to get the puck past Binnington. It was a line change putting Matthews between the Tkachuk brothers that seemingly paid off.

Both nations played a very tight game with little to no mistakes on either end, the only ones leading to the goals. After the first period, the nerves started to settle in as it was apparent that one mistake could cost either side the tournament.

The newly formed Tkachuk/Matthews line struck again in the second, giving Team USA the lead. Brady Tkachuk’s forecheck allowed the States to get the puck to Zach Werenski at the point. Matthews corralled the rebound off Werenski’s shot, and his attempt went off the stick of Canada’s Colton Parayko in the slot to Sanderson at the left hash marks, and the Senators defenseman put the puck past Binnington.

With 6 minutes to go in the period, Canada evened the game up with a goal from Panthers forward Sam Bennett. Mitch Marner carried the puck in, slipped a pass to his left, and Bennett scored from just below the left face-off circle, putting a shot into the top left corner to tie the game.

Something that was noted on the broadcast, was that Matthew Tkachuk missed a couple shifts at the end of the second period, and did not hit the ice for the rest of the game. It seems the injury that bothered him over the last few days caught up to him, and prevented him from playing the rest of the game. Despite the injury, he stayed suited up on the bench.

The third period didn’t feature any goals, but it was one of the tightest periods that you’ll have seen this entire season. Good chances on both ends and both goaltenders keeping their countries in the game. With time dwindling down, it was more and more obvious that the tournament would be settled in a winner take all overtime.

Following the NHL overtime rules, the first overtime started. Both teams continued their tight play and while not giving up much to either side, both Canada and the USA got their chances and their rushes. Jordan Binnington really saved Canada in this overtime frame, making spectacular save after spectacular save to keep his country in the game.

Then, the miracle came true. At 8:18 into overtime, Connor McDavid got the puck from Mitch Marner at the left hash marks with no one around him and roofed the puck to give Team Canada the tournament win. 15 years later, it’s Connor McDavid scoring the golden goal for Canada. Gloves and sticks shooting up into the air, the Maple Leaf is hung high in every Canadian household.

Connor McDavid was awarded the Player of the Game (obviously), and Nathan MacKinnon was announced as the 4Nations MVP.

Canada won the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the World Cup of Hockey 2016. They also won the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, giving Canada the gold medal in six of the past seven best-on-best international tournaments.

The US has not won a best-on-best tournament since 1996, and that drought only will continue as we head into 2026.

This was an unbelievable tournament, and a great promotion for hockey. This tournament revitalized everyone’s love for best-on-best international hockey, and now we can’t wait for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Now the focus must shift back into the NHL regular season, where teams will gear up for the playoffs in a few short months.