Final: Canada 3, USA 2 (OT) - McDavid scores in overtime winning 4 Nations Face-Off for Canada

In one of the biggest games in recent hockey history, Team Canada defeats Team USA 3-2 with Connor McDavid scoring the game winning goal in overtime.

In the highly anticipated rematch between rival countries, this game lived up to all expectations. Both teams played an even game throughout the 60 minutes of regulation time, and neither team looked to have a clear advantage over the other.

USA and Canada exchanged goals in the first period. Nathan MacKinnon got the scoring started firing a screened shot past Connor Hellebuyck to give Canada an early 1-0 lead.

USA then responded later in the period with Brady Tkachuk tying the game with a goal in front of the net.

Much of the same happened in the second period, as USA and Canada again traded off goals. This time, USA took the lead with Jake Sanderson crashing the net and scoring off a rebound.

However, Canada made a response of their own with Sam Bennett roofing a shot past the shoulder of Hellebuyck yet again tying the game.

No goals were scored in the third period, and both teams played a strong defensive game eliminating any scoring chances for either side. Jacob Slavin played an incredible defensive period for USA, blocking multiple shots and defending chances for Canada. Neither team was able to break the tie, and the game went into overtime.

In overtime, USA had multiple scoring opportunities which would've gave them the lead. However, Jordan Binnington stopped two crucial shots from Auston Matthews keeping Canada alive in this game. 

Eventually, with Canada gaining possession of the puck in USA's zone, McDavid was found open in the slot, and the Oilers captain sniped the overtime winner that gave Team Canada the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship.

Even though this is a tough pill to swallow for USA, there is a lot of optimism coming out of this tournament. In the two games they faced Canada, USA clearly showed that the gap between them and their rival country is getting smaller each and every year. They competed with Canada in every period, and it produced incredible hockey that every hockey fan will remember. 

From an entertainment standpoint, this tournament was exactly what the NHL needed in order to grow the game. Every player on all four teams was invested in this tournament, and fans finally got to see competitive best-on-best hockey. This entire tournament was entertaining and the anticipation for the 2026 Winter Olympics now reaches new heights because of these games. 

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WHO: USA vs Canada
WHEN: 8 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

ROSTERS

PROJECTED LINES

United States

Guentzel - Matthews - Hughes

Tkachuk - Eichel - Tkachuk

Miller - Larkin - Boldy

Kreider - Trocheck - Nelson

Slavin - Faber

Werenski - Sanderson

Hanifin - Fox

Hellebuyck

Oettinger

Canada

Point - McDavid - Stone

Crosby - MacKinnon - Reinhart

Hagel - Cirelli - Marner

Marchand - Bennett - Jarvis

Toews - Makar

Morrissey - Parayko

Sanheim - Doughty

Binnington

Hill

PREGAME NOTES

USA and Canada rematch each other in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game at the TD Garden. In their first matchup, USA defeated Canada 3-1.

Both teams enter into today with injuries in their defensive cores. For USA, Charlie McAvoy was admitted into Mass General Hospital as he currently is dealing with an infection from an upper body injury. Josh Morrissey was just recently scratched for Canada minutes before puck drop.

Cale Makar is back in the lineup for Canada after dealing with a sickness in the previous game against USA.