Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of extra time within the 4 Countries Face-Off championship recreation to offer Canada a 3-2 victory over the USA on Thursday evening because the North American competitors grew to become what were a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into an geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation up to global hockey supremacy.
Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett additionally scored for Canada. Jordan Binnington made 25 saves within the first 3 sessions and 6 extra within the further length at the identical ice the place he helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup 5 years in the past.
Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the American citizens, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 photographs in law and 3 extra in OT.
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The already ripe competition took on an added depth with the cross-border animosity following President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and communicate of creating Canada the 51st U.S. state. Trump referred to as the American crew Thursday morning to hope it smartly, then grew to become to Reality Social to poke Canadian High Minster Justin Trudeau with extra annexation chatter.
The political backdrop blended with the standard of the round-robin recreation, which the USA received 3-1 on Saturday, to deliver the ambience of a Stanley Cup Ultimate or Olympic gold medal recreation to the TD Lawn.
Enthusiasts of their crew jerseys waved flags, shouted for his or her countrymen and persisted the ritual booing of the opposing nationwide anthem that has change into an nightly undercard for what maximum agree has been one of the vital perfect global hockey competitions in many years.
The American lovers chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!” to spur at the house crew; within the 3rd length, a cheer of “Johnny Hockey! Johnny Hockey!” reminded the gamers that they had been taking part in for the reminiscence of former Boston Faculty and Calgary Flames celebrity Johnny Gaudreau, who was once killed through a under the influence of alcohol motive force whilst bicycling in New Jersey at his sister’s marriage ceremony closing summer season.
“Miracle on Ice” Olympic hero and honorary U.S. captain Mike Eruzione wore a Gaudreau jersey all through a pregame ceremonial puck drop with Canadian counterpart Wayne Gretzky.