Connor McDavid scores in OT to give Canada 3-2 win over United States in 4 Nations Face-Off final

Canada players celebrate after a goal by Nathan MacKinnon during the first period of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game against the United States, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa

United States' Brady Tkachuk, right, celebrates after his goal against Canada during the first period of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa

United States goalie Connor Hellebuyck, left, stops a shot by Canada's Seth Jarvis during the first period of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa

United States' Brady Tkachuk checks Canada's Devon Toews (5) during the first period of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa

Singer Chantal Kreviazuk performs "O Canada" prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa

As fans enter the Boston Garden, a man holds a sign on the sidewalk prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game between the United States and Canada, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa

United States fans rally prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game against Canada, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa

Canada's Sam Bennett (9) scores on United States goalie Connor Hellebuyck during the second period of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa

Canada's Sam Bennett (9) celebrates after his goal against the United States during the second period of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa

Canada goalie Jordan Binnington, left, looks back at the puck on a goal by United States' Jake Sanderson during the second period of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Charles Krupa

By JIMMY GOLEN

Associated Press

Published: 02-20-2025 11:44 PM

BOSTON — Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday night as the North American rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into an geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy.

Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett also scored for Canada. Jordan Binnington made 25 saves in the first three periods and six more in the extra period on the same ice where he helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup five years ago.

Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the Americans, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots in regulation and three more in OT.

The already ripe rivalry took on an added intensity with the cross-border animosity following President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state. Trump called the American team Thursday morning to wish it well, then turned to Truth Social to poke Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau with more annexation chatter.

The political backdrop combined with the quality of the round-robin game, which the United States won 3-1 on Saturday, to bring the atmosphere of a Stanley Cup Final or Olympic gold medal game to the TD Garden.

Fans in their team jerseys waved flags, shouted for their countrymen and continued the ritual booing of the opposing national anthem that has become an nightly undercard for what most agree has been one of the best international hockey competitions in decades.

The American fans chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!” to spur on the home team; in the third period, a cheer of “Johnny Hockey! Johnny Hockey!” reminded the players that they were playing for the memory of former Boston College and Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed by a drunk driver while bicycling in New Jersey at his sister’s wedding last summer.

“Miracle on Ice” Olympic hero and honorary U.S. captain Mike Eruzione wore a Gaudreau jersey during a pregame ceremonial puck drop with Canadian counterpart Wayne Gretzky.

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