You can check off another box in the accomplishment category for PG’s Jon Cooper.
The two-time Stanley Cup champion head coach with NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning can now say he is the winning coach of record at the Four Nations Face-Off.
Connor McDavid’s wrist shot at 8:18 of overtime life Canada to an emotional 3-2 triumph over the United States in front of a raucous crowd at the TD North Gardens in Boston on Thursday night, capping off what many would consider an instant classic.
Jordan Binnington was superb in the Canadian crease turning aside 31 American shots, including a pair of highlight reels saves in extra time.
Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring for Canada at 4:48 of the first period, sliding into the high-slot and wiring a wrist shot past American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
Brady Tkachuk evened the score for the USA as he deflected a puck from a high-traffic area that aluded Binnington to make it 1-1 after 20 minutes.
Jake Sanderson would give the Americans their first and only lead of the game deflecting a puck initially shot by Auston Matthews.
Cooper and his Canadian squad received a huge goal from one of their grinders in super-pest Sam Bennett who sniped home a blast top corner, over the shoulder of Hellebuyck. Mitch Marner led the play with a 2-on-1 rush before sliding the puck over to Bennett for a clear shot.
Marner ended the game with two assists.
USA outshot Canada 33-27. The Canadians failed to score in the only power-play awarded in the contest.
Cooper is the national team’s head coach at the 2026 Winter Olympics notched his first gold medal at the international stage thanks to a succesfull Four Nations tune up.
(From the files of Brendan Pawliw staff)
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