BOSTON – With the rest of the rest at 11:42, Conor McDavid passed Conor Helebuick to get Team USA 3-2 win over Canada on Thursday in the 4 Nations face-off championship game at TD Garden I attached a shot from the slot with wings.
McDavid kicked out the Mitch Marner pass from the corner and snapped the puck over Hellebuyck's gloves.
“Connor is the best player in our game,” said tournament MVP Nathan McKinnon. “It was special for him to put it in such a fierce atmosphere and an environment that is hostile to Canadians. Hopefully, he can do it again next year (at the Olympics).”
McDavid praised Marner for putting up a pass from the corner. McDavid's job was to keep the middle open.
“Your average hockey fan can't understand how impressive it is. You don't pick up a puck-up from the wall like that and play great,” McDavid said. “I lifted my head and pulled the two guys towards him and poured them into the plate in the middle. It's a great play. Fans may not understand how good it is.”
Conor McDavid! Overtime winner! 🚨
Conor McDavid Tranche Empolong! 🚨#4nationspic.twitter.com/af96pdu2s8
– Hockey Canada (@hockeycanada) February 21, 2025
Boston hero Binnington
Jordan Binnington was a Canadian overtime hero while McDavid scored the winner. The starting goalkeeper pulled back six US shots in the OT, including two from Auston Matthews' point blank range. Binnington is also a pigeon to make a shot of Brady Tokachuk into gloves.
“You have to give all the credits to the Binner in overtime,” said Canadian forward Brad Marchand. “He made five or six incredible saves and completely changed the course of that game. Tonight we won an inch game, which is what these games were once It's difficult when it comes to the times. Eliminating single games, they're hard to win. They're a great group. But we've got a little better tonight.”
Canada's goaltending was considered a weakness compared to US conditions. But Binnington, who won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues and Boston in 2019, was at his best in his biggest overtime moments.
“I've never seen it,” Binnington said when asked about Matthews' theft. “It's funny in that moment. I don't remember. It's you're crazy about it. I was just fighting and trying to do the job. I found a way to get the job done. Obviously, it's more special than when you win. There are very few moments like that. I will definitely check it out.”
Jordan Binnington! are you kidding! 🤯🤯🤯
Jordan Binnington! Incroyable! 🤯🤯🤯#4nations pic.twitter.com/rxym1mvwqm
– Hockey Canada (@hockeycanada) February 21, 2025
Jordan Binnington is a flawed goaltender, but here is his career count in all games that this is the winner:
-29/30 Save with Dallas in 2nd round game 7 in 2019
-32/33 Saves in the Stanley Cup Final Game 7 against Boston in 2019
-31/33 will save in the final match between the four countries3-0.
– Peter Bo (@peter_baugh) February 21, 2025
“Johnny Hockey!”
In the third season, the TD Garden crowd began “Johnny Hockey!” Two hymns in honor of Johnny Gordrow. The Americans maintained the forward's 13th place jersey, which was late into the dressing room during the tournament. They handed out Gordrow's jerseys to the most appropriate players with each victory.
US captain Matthews gave Brady Tokachuk the Gaudlow uniform after his first victory in Finland. Tkachuk presented it to Jake Gunzel after the Americans defeated Canada at Bell Center.
“Johnny Hockey” Chants broke out in America vs. Canadian Games
🎥 @espnpic.twitter.com/r59i6nkhpx
– Athletic (@theathletic) February 21, 2025
We're riding a pair of Slavin Fabers
Brock Faber (28:50) and Jaccob Slavin (28:32) led the Americans in Ice Time. Neither is known for having the ice skills of Zach Werenski, the team's most dynamic defender. However, the Slavin-Faber duo acted as a thorough shutdown pair by becoming healthy in position, maintaining a tight gap, keeping enemies away from dangerous ice, and moving the puck quickly.
As evidence of their first defence value, Faber had zero shots online. Slavin had two. The coaching staff continued to call numbers because of how well they were able to check.
“Slavin and Faber were incredible throughout the tournament,” US manager Mike Sullivan said. “When we put them together, we wanted them to be a difficult defensive pair to compete with, and they were. I thought they were doing the yeoman job. do a job that is not grateful for. They protect the best players. Their contributions don't always appear on the highlight reels, but they lead to winning. These types of players are needed. They're everyone's glue. They're the type of guy who helps the team win. That's why they're here.
“I thought there would be a huge tournament for both. Jaccob Slavin might be one of the best defensive defenders in the league. His mobility, his size, his reach. He defended the rush. He is excellent at netfront. In my mind, Brock Faber is an emerging star.”
Jaccob Slavin is an elite defender pic.twitter.com/y3jx1hszfo
– b/r Open Ice (@br_openice) February 21, 2025
Jaccob Slavin is the league's best defensive defensive player.
Do you agree or disagree? pic.twitter.com/t3tnly0gcl
– Hockey News (@thehockeynews) February 21, 2025
Canadians abuse Adam Fox
Team USA tried to protect Adam Fox in the third pair with Noah Honeyfin. However, the Canadians targeted the defenders on the right shot in the second period before reaching the cohesive goal.
Fox tried to leave the zone as long distance handed the ice. Sam Bennett intercepted the pass and launched a counterattack.
Fox tried to raise the gap. However, he managed to get Bennett and Marner to gain the attacking zone at speed by his long spin. Manner cuts into the middle with the pack and Fox went forward. This causes Marner to find Bennett's seam on his left flank, leaving the fox free. Bennett defeated Helebuick to make the game 2-2. Through the regulations, Bennett led all players with six shots online.
Fox's Olympic spot is not guaranteed given his lack of pace.
And now, Sam Bennett has tied up the Canadian game!
this #4nations Face Off Championship 🍿
🎥 @nhlpic.twitter.com/r9j6jt7uzd
– Athletic (@theathletic) February 21, 2025
One is Tkachuk, the other is down
Brady Tkachuk was the monster of this tournament. The Ottawa Senator captain scored in his first period. In the second term, his portentous presence below the goal line opened up space for Jake Sanderson to score from between the dots. Brady Tkachuk and Matthews were two best forwards for the Americans in the title game.
But Matthew Tokachuk was the shadow of his usual, terrifying self. He did not get one shift in the third term or overtime. Tkachuk was cheering on his teammates.
Secondly, he was limited to six shifts. One shift lasted only 1 second. He seemed to have barely any of his skatepop. He didn't play Sweden due to a private injury.
“Matthew Tokachuk will affect our team even if he wasn't 100% and not able to use him in many games. His presence in the bench and locker room is what makes this group even more so. It's a lot for me,” Sullivan said. “He's all in the heart. He's a man of heart and soul. So does his brother.”
It's deeper
Our injured star Matthew Tokachuk can't finish the four nations final: “He's all in the heart”
Reinhart begins the opening goal
During the first period, Werenski tried to advance to Sanderson to D-To-D in the defensive zone. Sam Reinhart paid Werenski.
Reinhart predicted a pass, picked up the puck below the goal line, lowering it to Thomas Harley at the left point. When Harley handed over the pack to Nathan McKinnon, Reinhart stayed in front of the net to screen Helebuick.
So, when McKinnon sifted shots online from the top of the circle, Reinhart's screen helped limit Helebuick's vision. The US goalkeeper didn't seem to watch McKinnon's shot until he passed him.
Canada will strike first
Nathan McKinnon makes his first goal the Nets #4nations Face Off Championship.
🎥 @nhlpic.twitter.com/pewr0jgfiq
– Athletic (@theathletic) February 21, 2025
Switching Centers Create US Goals
Later in the first period, the Americans flipped Matthews and Jack Eychel. The movement paid off. On the second shift, Matthews, Newwings Bradytkachuk and Matthew Kachuk created Thai goals.
Matthews began his play by picking Devon Two's slow pass to Kale McCal below the goal line. Matthews swung around the net and threw the puck forward. Brady Tkachuk crashed the net and jammed the pack past Binnington.
Even after Matthew Tkachuk left the game, Matthews and Brady Tkachuk were both powerful.
Brady Tkachuk tie the game 1-1
🎥 @nhl | #fournations pic.twitter.com/5bbas9e3kz
– Athletic (@theathletic) February 21, 2025
“Hockey celebration”
Even before the pack fell in Thursday's final, Americans and Canadians admitted that the four-nation showdown touched on the sport at several events.
“This tournament certainly had a huge impact on hockey in the US. There's no questions asked in North America, but maybe the world,” Sullivan said. “These latest tournaments bring out the best. In my mind, the investments that all these teams showed every night, in my opinion, were incredible hockey celebrations.
“It's hard not to be excited about what we're witnessing. I think tonight we'll be at the pinnacle of tonight with Team USA and Canada competing for the championship.”
What draws Sullivan's attention is how the tournament progressed the sport. It wasn't just some of the world's best hockey players participated. They are also one of the most competitive and imaginative athletes on the planet.
“These are savants that bring their creativity and sparkle to them being there and that's the evolution of the game and they bring their creativity and sparkle,” Sullivan said. “That's what we're witnessing firsthand, and I feel like I have the best seating in the house.
The tournament also expanded the reach of the NHL. It may encourage participants and viewers who are new to the sport to attract more attention to hockey.
“People outside the arena who don't normally talk about our sports are talking about it on the water cooler,” said Canadian coach John Cooper. “We are sure that parties will be held not only in our country but in the US. People from Europe will be taking part in this game, and they should, because it deserves richness. This sport It's worthy of richness as you look at two teams with a passion to do.
“That's the sport. So, the reason people say the Stanley Cup is the most difficult trophy to win, because it's those two months. So, when you're lucky enough to lift that Stanley Cup, you knows how difficult it is to get there.”

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Inspirational Returns for McAvoy
Charlie McAvoy was released from Massachusetts General Hospital on Thursday. Team USA defenseman has been hospitalized since Monday due to an infection in his right shoulder.
McAvoy read the starting lineup for Americans. The defenders were wearing slings. Several of his teammates gave McAvoy a standing ovation. Brady Tkachuk hugged McAvoy after reading the lineup.
The Boston Bruins defensive man was injured in a US Finland game on February 13th. McAvoy suffered serious damage to the AC joint on his right shoulder. He was removed from the club team's match against the Anaheim duck on Saturday. The Bruins don't expect McAvoy to play again next week.
Charlie's starting lineup ❤️🇺🇸 #4nations pic.twitter.com/nbr7jzccaa
– USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 21, 2025

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The Bruins deal with Charlie McAvoy's infection and potential long-term absence after Team USA's injury
Necessary reading
(Photo: Brian Babinau/Getty Images)