In a fiercely contested showdown between North American hockey powerhouses, Canada edged out the United States 3-2 in overtime on Thursday to secure the Four Nations Face-Off championship in Boston.
Connor McDavid sealed the victory for Canada with a decisive goal off a pass from Mitch Marner, capping a tense final that had been intensified by political rhetoric between the two nations. The win came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump made controversial remarks suggesting Canada was the “51st state.”
Following the triumph, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—whom Trump had mockingly referred to as “Governor Trudeau”—took to social media, posting, “You can’t take our country—and you can’t take our game.”
A Rivalry Reignited
The clash was a rematch of a heated round-robin encounter, in which the U.S. triumphed 3-1 amid three fights breaking out in the opening nine seconds. While Thursday’s final was equally intense, it remained free of brawls, allowing the skill and speed of both squads to take center stage.
“Just to see the reaction, knowing what it means to us,” said McDavid, who was named Player of the Game. “It’s not an Olympic gold medal, but it means the world to our group. Everybody battled so hard. It was special.”
Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon, who was named tournament MVP, echoed the sentiment. “It means a lot to us. It’s high stakes. Best players in the world going at it. It was a lot of fun.”
Game Highlights
MacKinnon opened the scoring at 4:48 in the first period with a powerful shot that sailed past U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The Americans responded with an equalizer from Brady Tkachuk late in the period, assisted by captain Auston Matthews.
Jake Sanderson, a last-minute addition to the U.S. roster, gave the Americans a 2-1 lead in the second period with a well-placed shot through traffic. However, Canada answered back as Sam Bennett found the net with six minutes left in the second, setting up a goalless third period that forced overtime.
In the extra frame, Canada’s goaltender Jordan Binnington made several critical saves before McDavid’s heroics secured the win, adding another chapter to the storied Canada-U.S. hockey rivalry.
Political Tensions Add to the Drama
The final took place against a backdrop of political tensions between the two nations. Trump’s pre-game remarks and his call to the U.S. squad heightened anticipation, while past comments about tariffs and border policies further fueled the competitive atmosphere.
During the earlier round-robin match in Montreal, Canadian fans had booed the U.S. national anthem in response to Trump’s trade threats. However, in Boston, only a smattering of jeers greeted the Canadian anthem.
Canada’s Continued Dominance
With the victory, Canada cemented its place as a dominant force in international hockey, having reached all nine finals of best-on-best tournaments since 1996, winning seven of them. The U.S., meanwhile, continues to chase its first such title since its 1996 World Cup of Hockey triumph.
With the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy on the horizon, the Four Nations Face-Off served as a preview of what could be another thrilling chapter in the Canada-U.S. hockey rivalry.
