Connor McDavid’s overtime goal lifted Canada to a 3-2 victory over Team USA in Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game in Boston, amid escalating political tension between the two nations’ leaders.
The game-winning play came when American star Auston Matthews left McDavid unmarked in the slot, allowing Canada’s captain to fire the decisive shot past U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who had delivered a standout performance throughout the tournament.
The dramatic finish sparked immediate political crooning from Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to earlier comments from President Donald Trump about annexation, posting on X: “You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.”
Trump had previously written on Truth Social that Canada, “with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State.”
Before the game, he called Team USA to wish them luck in the face-off.
“I just want to wish you a lot of luck. You really are a skilled group of people. It’s an honor to talk to you. And get out there, and there is no pressure whatsoever. We love you guys. We’ll be watching tonight. Bring it home,” Trump told the team.
The political undertones extended to the pre-game ceremonies, where U.S. fans booed the Canadian anthem, reportedly in retaliation for similar treatment of the “Star-Spangled Banner” during last week’s game in Montreal.
Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk confirmed to CBC News she altered the lyrics of pregame rendition of “O Canada” from “True patriot love, in all of us command” to “that only us command” in response to Trump’s annexation comments.
The evening also included a tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau from the Boston crowd, adding a moment of unity to an otherwise tension-filled championship game.
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