McDavid scores the golden goal as Canada beats USA to win the 4 Nations Face-Off

You can call it a passing of the torch.

A few days shy of the 15-year anniversary of Sidney Crosby’s iconic golden goal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, another generational talent had his own historic moment for Canada.

Connor McDavid scored the game-winning goal at 8:18 of overtime to lift Canada to a 3-2 win over the USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off final.

It just had to be McDavid 🇨🇦#4Nations | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/pS0mIhGXRP

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 21, 2025

Although it was just an eight-day tournament with seven total games, Thursday night’s final felt more like an Olympic gold medal game or even a Stanley Cup Final game seven.

Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring in the first period, but Brady Tkachuk knotted things up at one apiece before the end of the frame.

It was a similar story in the second, but this time it was the USA who took the lead courtesy of a Jake Sanderson tally.

Sam Bennett tied the game six and a half minutes later with a shot that beat Connor Hellebuyck up high.

THIS GAME IS TIED AGAIN 😳

Sam Bennett goes upstairs to make this a 2-2 game! #4Nations

🇺🇸: @espn & @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/S5tPrXCygm
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/PCHoru6JVT

— NHL (@NHL) February 21, 2025

There was no scoring in the third, but enough close moments and intense calls to induce a panic attack for many North American hockey fans as they sat on the edge of their seats.

A 2-2 tie after 60 minutes meant overtime and the intensity only grew, minute by minute, until the final shift of the game.

After McDavid missed the net with a chance off the faceoff, the puck was sent around the end boards to Mitch Marner in the corner.

The skilled Leafs forward made a slick pass to the Oilers superstar, who had found some open ice in the slot, and McDavid wired a shot past Hellebuyck into the top right corner of the net.

THERE IT IS! THE GAME WINNER! THE TOURNAMENT WINNER! 😱😱😱

CONNOR MCDAVID HAS WON IT FOR CANADA!!! #4Nations pic.twitter.com/nDneA2e26K

— NHL (@NHL) February 21, 2025

Canadian fans across the country erupted into cheers and the bench emptied onto the ice, some going to the OT hero McDavid while others swarmed goalie Jordan Binnington.

Goaltending was considered to be the weak spot on Canada’s roster, but Binnington played at an elite level on Thursday night and made several five-alarm saves in the third period and overtime.

It might be something about the TD Garden in Boston, as Binnington won a Stanley Cup Final game seven with the St. Louis Blues on the same ice surface early six years ago.

MacKinnon, who opened the scoring for Canada tonight, was named tournament MVP.

NHL action resumes on Saturday and it might feel a little slow-paced after what hockey fans witnessed tonight and over the past few days.