Connor McDavid scored the winning goal in overtime, and Jordan Binnington made 31 saves, as Canada defeated the United States to win the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off.
Binnington made a series of three game-defining saves in overtime, robbing Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk in short order. A few minutes later, McDavid beat Connor Hellebuyck with a perfect top-shelf wrist shot, ending the game in true Canadian fashion.
“It sucks,” said Brady. “My favorite hockey memories, just playing for this team, playing with this group, and this is going to give us nice motivation for a year’s time.”
With the win, Binnington silenced his critics that suggested that Canada’s goaltending was subpar. He made the big saves when he needed to, and got the win when it mattered most.
Electrifying start, minus the fights
Thursday night in Boston was the pinnacle of sports, the crossover of an Olympic gold medal and a Game 7.
The Empire State Building and the CN Tower, both illuminated by the colors of their respective countries. Charlie McAvoy, discharged from the hospital hours earlier, his shoulder in a sling, reading out the U.S. starting lineup in the locker room before the game. The Herb Brooks “Miracle on Ice” speech, played in the opening on both TV and in TD Garden. Mike Eruzione, the United States’ honorary captain who played on the 1980 U.S. team, sporting a Johnny Gaudreau jersey.
The Boston crowd, swapping their initial booing of O Canada for cheers, then belting out The Star-Spangled Banner. Chants of “USA! USA!” echoed throughout TD Garden all night. “Johnny Hockey!” chants in the third period. National pride, at an all-time high.
“I don’t know much about politics,” said Nathan MacKinnon, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player, “but we know that USA–Canada, it’s kind of a thing right now, and obviously we’re playing against each other in a sport.”
There was no repeat of Saturday’s fisticuffs to begin. But no fights were needed to set the tone.
Most of the crowd was still standing after the puck had dropped. Binnington, who, nearly six years ago, stoned the Boston Bruins here in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, froze the puck early. Stirring the pot in front of him was Brady Tkachuk, who pushed two Canadian players.
Less than five minutes in, Thomas Harley — in for Josh Morrissey, who was sick — made a drop pass to MacKinnon in the offensive zone. MacKinnon fired a shot on net as Harley drove several U.S. players back into the slot. Hellebuyck was fooled and Canada led 1–0.
A few minutes later, Seth Jarvis nearly made it 2–0 as Canada failed to put in a bushelful of chances.
The U.S. tied the game with just over three minutes to play in the period, as Brady Tkachuk — who else — chipped in a Matthews wrap-around attempt. Matthews was swapped with Jack Eichel on the Tkachuk line in the opening frame. Neither Devon Toews or Brayden Point picked up Brady in front of the net.
“I thought this was Auston’s best,” said U.S. coach Mike Sullivan. “He’s a dynamic player. I’ve said the last couple days, when people have asked me about him, the thing that has jumped out at me the most is his 200-foot game, his commitment to play defense, play away from the puck. He has a mature game. He has a game that’s conducive to winning.
“He has a quiet confidence about him and how he leads. He’s not a rah rah guy, but I think his presence influences the group.”
The U.S. out-hit Canada 13–5 in the first period, but the teams were even in shots — Canada 11 and the U.S. 10.
The Brady Tkachuk show
The intensity picked up in the second period, as the two nations again traded goals.
Every post-whistle scrum, it seemed, featured Brady Tkachuk. Through two periods, he was tied for the team lead with four hits, including another bone crusher on Drew Doughty near the end of the middle frame.
The younger Tkachuk was also excellent on the forecheck. Though he was not credited with an assist on Jake Sanderson’s go-ahead goal, he kickstarted the play. He stapled Colton Parayko to the boards, then created havoc with Parayko in front of Binnington as Sanderson, who began the tournament as a defensive replacement for Quinn Hughes, deposited a rebound from Matthews.
Canada pressed, and after Jaccob Slavin narrowly cleared away a Sidney Crosby chance to tie the game, Sam Bennett roofed a short side shot past Hellebuyck to even the score. As Mitch Marner, an excellent passer, cut to the middle, he drew Adam Fox toward him. Bennett went wide and found space.
On a more somber note for the U.S., Matthew Tkachuk played just 6:47, and recorded one shot. He did not play in the third period. Matthew was not 100% before the game, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, and according to Michael Russo of The Athletic, his brother said that he didn’t think the injury was “too good.”
Chris Kreider, who skated in place of Kyle Connor Thursday, played 6:25 — the lowest of the U.S. skaters.
Slavin also made a key block on a Seth Jarvis chance in the third period — one of many close scoring chances in the final frame that included a Brandon Hagel tip that beat Hellebuyck and hit the post, a Jake Guentzel opportunity that was poked away by Brayden Point and a clutch J.T. Miller interception in the waning moments, denying McDavid a gaping net.
“Jaccob Slavin might be one of the best defending defenseman in the league, bar none,” said Sullivan. “His mobility, his size, his reach. He defends the rush. He’s great at the net front.”
As fate would have it, the two nations would go to overtime.
Binnington in the clutch
Jordan Binnington loves playing elimination games at TD Garden.
It was where he made 32 saves to win the cup in Game 7. And, in overtime in the 4 Nations Face-Off final, it was where his legend rose again.
Binnington robbed Matthews on the doorstep with a cross-crease save. Then he stole a sure goal from Brady Tkachuk. And off the ensuing faceoff, he made another save on Matthews, this time with his glove.
Canada looked shaky at times in overtime. They nearly got called for too many men before Binnington bailed them out.
“Binnington was unbelievable,” said MacKinnon. “The saves he was making, and we just needed one look.”
And at 8:18 of overtime, it happened.
Mitch Marner stopped a rimmed puck in the corner. He put the puck in the slot, where an unmarked McDavid faced Hellebuyck, one-on-one. McDavid’s picture-perfect shot sailed over Hellebuyck’s glove.
“We had three or four grade-A looks,” said Sullivan. “We don’t score, they get an icing and they score. I don’t know that we can dissect it any more than that.”
“Connor was very open,” said MacKinnon. “So that was nice. Usually, when he’s that open, it’s in the net.”
Fifteen years after Crosby’s golden goal won Canada the Olympic gold medal in Vancouver, by the same 3–2 score, history repeated itself, as Canada’s best player had once again won it all.
