Canada emerged victorious in the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off, the NHL’s newly introduced competition replacing the traditional All-Star Game, defeating Team USA 3-2 in overtime at TD Garden. The tightly contested matchup between the neighboring rivals was played before a packed crowd of 20,000 in the home of the Boston Celtics.
Nathan MacKinnon put Canada on the scoreboard first in regulation, but Team USA responded swiftly. Brady Tkachuk netted the equalizer within minutes, and defenseman Jake Sanderson completed the comeback with a goal midway through the third period, giving the Americans a 2-1 lead.
Just as the hosts appeared poised to close out the victory, Canada struck back. A sequence orchestrated by Mitchell Marner and Sam Bennett led to the game-tying goal, sending the contest into overtime. Team USA had the early edge in the extra frame, generating multiple scoring chances, but it was Connor McDavid who silenced TD Garden with the decisive goal, clinching the title for Canada. The Oilers’ star forward was named MVP of the tournament.
“I know it’s just a quick tournament—it’s not an Olympic gold medal or anything like that—but it means the world to our group,” McDavid said postgame. “Everyone battled so hard all week, so it was special.”
Canada’s head coach Jon Cooper emphasized the significance of the victory for his team and nation. “I just hope Canada is proud because every player in that room is proud to be Canadian,” Cooper told CNN. “Did we need a win? Not just our team—Canada needed a win. The players carried that responsibility and took it seriously. This wasn’t just for themselves; this was for 40-plus million people, and they delivered.”
The game came amid heightened emotions north of the border, fueled in part by recent remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had reiterated his belief that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States, adding an extra layer of intensity to an already heated rivalry on the ice.
