Canada stuns USA 3-2 in OT to win 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game: Live updates
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Connor McDavid scores a game-winner in overtime for Canada, defeating Team USA 3-2 in championship
Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring for Canada early in the first period, firing a wrister through traffic and beating Connor Hellebuyck up high. Team USA tied the game late in the first after Brady Tkachuk cleaned up an Auston Matthews wraparound.
The United States took the lead near the midway point of the second period as Jake Sanderson flicked in a rebound to cap off a hectic sequence. Canada equalized with six minutes remaining in the second on an accurate Sam Bennett shot from close range, assisted by Mitch Marner.
After a scoreless third period, this intense finale went to overtime where Connor McDavid became the hero. He broke free in the slot before beating Hellebuyck and stunning the Americans.
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Team Canada keeps its best-on-best win streak alive, now champions of:
You couldn’t have scripted it any better. Connor McDavid, the world’s best player, gets his big moment — a storybook ending to an incredible eight days for hockey and the NHL product.
The United States will have to spend yet another year as the little brother in this relationship. It’s going to be a long 11 and a half months until Milano Cortina.
What. A. Game.
Heartbreaking for the USA, who smelled blood in the water throughout the overtime frame and just couldn’t find the winner.
There just something in the jerseys for the Canadian senior men’s hockey team. A magic team and they got it done again.
Final (OT) – United States 2, Canada 3
Connor McDavid gets a free shot in the slot and beats Hellebuyck to win the tournament for Canada!
THERE IT IS! THE GAME WINNER! THE TOURNAMENT WINNER! 😱😱😱
CONNOR MCDAVID HAS WON IT FOR CANADA!!! #4Nations pic.twitter.com/nDneA2e26K
OT 12:30 – United States 2, Canada 2
The pace here is frenetic. If this keeps up, it’s hard to imagine this game reaching a second overtime.
The U.S. was all over Canada for a stretch of a few minutes there, but now the game is more even, with action at both ends of the ice.
OT 15:27 – United States 2, Canada 2
Binnington again! The U.S. wins a faceoff and Matthews gets a dangerous shot off from the slot, but Binnington is unbeatable right now!
Jordan Binnington doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, but boy, here’s there when you need him. What a save on Auston Matthews in overtime.
And again on Matthews. And again on Brady Tkachuk! Wow!
JORDAN BINNINGTON!!!! GAME SAVER #4NATIONS pic.twitter.com/iw2QjuoWSW
OT 16:37 – United States 2, Canada 2
Moments after Matthews’ chance, Marchand has a clear break on goal but the U.S. defense recovers just in time to prevent a goal.
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OT 17:09 – United States 2, Canada 2
How has Matthews not won it for Team USA there?! Guentzel sets him up right in front of goal but Binnington makes an incredible save!
BINNINGTON WITH THE BLOCKER #4Nations pic.twitter.com/ti0EaIZVo4
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OT 17:58 – United States 2, Canada 2
The American fans in Boston want an icing call that isn’t coming. That doesn’t stop the U.S. from quickly generating a chance as Nelson gets the puck in space on the right wing, but his shot fails to hit the target.
And now, both the American fans and the American players want a penalty on Canada for too many men, but again, no call is coming.
The entire crowd at TD Garden was on its feet as the players took the ice for overtime.
The entire lower bowl is still standing as overtime begins. Here we go!
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OT 20:00 – United States 2, Canada 2
The puck drops and sudden death begins! Hold onto your seats, this is going to be thrilling!
Connor Hellebuyck and Jordan Binnington both made big saves when called upon in the third period.
The duo combined for 13 saves in the final 20 minutes of regulation, stepping up in clutch time.
It’s almost unfair that one of them has to concede what will be a heartbreaking goal here in overtime.
Pgad: Auston Matthews doing his best John Cena imitation.
Bennett J: Brock Faber is the best righthanded defenseman in the world.
Co S: Whatever the outcome, the days of Canada owning hockey are over for good.
Perry H: Jack Hughes getting manhandled.
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Let us know who you’ve got as the overtime goal scorer!
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We’ve assembled our predictions for who we think will score the winning goal in overtime tonight.
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Canada has a 7-1 record in overtime games at NHL international tournaments, while the United States is 0-1.
Past overtime goal scorers for Canada:
In addition, Canadian forward Nathan MacKinnon scored an OT goal for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
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There have been four overtime games in the championship round of previous NHL international tournaments:
The only time the championship was clinched with an overtime goal was in 1976, by Canada’s Darryl Sittler. One player will join Sittler with that distinction tonight.
Canada beats the United States 3-2 in overtime to capture 4 Nations Face-Off crown
Canada wins yet again
How McDavid scored to win 4 Nations for Canada
McDavid gets his moment
USA will have to wait for 2026 Olympics
Canada wins an instant classic
Connor McDavid wins 4 Nations Face-Off for Canada!
More incredible saves by Binnington!
Matthews with a huge chance to win it!
Overtime is underway!
Both goalies impressing
Your views on Canada-United States
Our OT GWG predictions
USA and Canada’s history in overtime
Overtime history
All eyes will be on the hockey world Thursday night as Team USA takes on Team Canada in the championship of the 4 Nations Face-Off. The two teams already met earlier in the tournament, with the U.S. winning 3-1 on Saturday in a game that began with three fights in the first nine seconds.
Will there be more fireworks Thursday night? Here’s how you can tune in to find out:
Date: Feb. 20
Location: TD Garden | Boston
Teams: USA vs. Canada
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+
The 4 Nations Face-Off is a round-robin tournament that replaced the NHL All-Star game this season.
Team USA, Team Canada, Team Sweden and Team Finland.
Team USA roster
Forwards
12. Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
81. Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
9. Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
59. Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
86. Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
20. Chris Kreider, New York Rangers
21. Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
34. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
10. J.T. Miller, New York Rangers
29. Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
7. Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
19. Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
16. Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers
Defensemen
14. Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
23. Adam Fox, New York Rangers
15. Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights
25. Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
85. Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators*
74. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
8. Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
Goalies
37. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
30. Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
1. Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins
Team Canada roster
Forwards
9. Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers
71. Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning
87. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
38. Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
24. Seth Jarvis, Carolina Hurricanes
11. Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers
29. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
63. Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
16. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
97. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
21. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
13. Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
61. Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Defensemen
89. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings*
8. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
44. Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
55. Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues
6. Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers
27. Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
5. Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
Goalies
50. Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
33. Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights
35. Sam Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens
How to watch the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game
What is the 4 Nations Face-Off?
Who is playing in the 4 Nations Face-Off?
U.S. team gets call from President Trump ahead of 4 Nations final vs. Canada
Coach Sullivan says support is indication of ‘the impact’ tournament has made on country
© USA Hockey
BOSTON — With the United States hockey team assembled in their dressing room at TD Garden on Thursday morning, general manager Bill Guerin held up his phone. President Donald Trump was on the other end of the line.
The president addressed the U.S. players before they took the ice for morning skate ahead of their matchup with Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game (8 p.m. ET; Disney+, ESPN+, ESPN, SN, TVAS), the culmination of the first best-on-best tournament in nine years.
“It was a distinct honor,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “Politics aside, when the president of the United States takes the time to speak to our players, it’s an incredible honor. I think it’s an indication, once again, of the impact that this tournament has had on people in the United States. People are paying attention and so I think that’s a credit to all the players that have been involved and their commitment to excellence and how competitive these games have been.
“But it was an incredible honor. I know we have a locker room full of proud Americans and when the president of the United States takes the time out of his busy schedule to say a few words to our guys, I know it meant a lot to every one of us.”
According to defenseman Noah Hanifin, Trump talked for approximately five minutes during the call.
“Obviously it’s cool whenever you can talk to any president or hear him talk,” defenseman Zach Werenski said. “I feel like for our group, we’re proud Americans and we want to make the country proud and just to hear from him was awesome. Definitely a little bit of a surprise, but a cool moment for sure.”
Trump had said earlier in the day, via Truth Social, that he would not be in attendance for the game at TD Garden, but did make the phone call to the team.
“It’s a pretty big deal for him to take time out of his schedule to talk to us for five minutes and it’s another one of those things where we’re kind of pinching ourselves this tournament,” J.T. Miller said.
The tournament has been played amidst political tensions between the U.S. and Canada, with the first four games held in Montreal and the final three in Boston.
Now available on NHL Auctions, 4 Nations game-worn jerseys from USA vs. Canada and Finland vs. Sweden, as well as pucks used in games throughout the tournament.
“The political side of things, we feel for everybody on our side of things, but I think for us to come here and to be in that room it’s going to be more for us to win that game than sit there and debate what the game means,” Canada coach Jon Cooper said.
“We have to go out there and represent our country and make them proud. For us, if we accomplish that then I think we accomplish what we want to, to make Canadians proud.”
Miller said Trump’s message was for the team to have fun with the game, to enjoy it. He said that the team has the support of the U.S. and, as Miller added, “We feel that.”
“I think any time you can get a call from the president, it’s special,” Hanifin said. “I think over the last few days, since the game Saturday, it’s been apparent just how big this game has become for everybody in both countries.
“It’s a great opportunity for us as players. It was pretty cool to get that call. We appreciate all the support from all Americans, everybody around the world that’s watching the game. It’s a big opportunity for us and we’re all excited for tonight.”
Werenski said Trump told the team he would be watching the game.
“Just wished us luck,” he said. “Said they’re all cheering us on.”