Canada’s hockey stars earned the country huge bragging rights over Donald Trump after snatching a dramatic overtime win in Thursday night’s championship game against USA.
With tensions between the two nations at boiling point amid Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on their neighbors, Canada got one over on the American president by toppling his country in Boston.
After a hard-fought 2-2 draw in regulation time, the visitors clinched a famous win in the extra period thanks to Connor McDavid, who powered the all-important winner past American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and into the net at 8:18 of overtime.
McDavid scored from close range to seal the most satisfying of victories for Canada in a game with added intensity amid Trump’s tariff threats and talk of making them the 51st US state.
Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett also scored for Canada. Goaltender Jordan Binnington made 25 saves in the first three periods and six more in overtime on the same ice where he helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup five years ago.
Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the Americans, while Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots in regulation and three more in OT before McDavid’s winner.
Canada earned a crucial overtime victory in Thursday’s 4 Nations final against USA
The rivalry between the neighboring countries turned sour heading into Thursday’s final amid the controversy surrounding Trump, who also referred to Justin Trudeau as ‘governor’ in a brutal swipe at the Canadian prime minister ahead of the hockey showdown.
Before the puck drop in Boston, home fans were heard booing the Canadian national anthem in a clear show of support for their president.
US supporters packed into the arena were heard jeering furiously when Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk began her rendition of ‘O Canada’, only to slowly quieten down as she continued.
The visiting fans in attendance could eventually be heard singing along proudly, before the Star Spangled Banner was performed to a huge ovation.
While the boos initially drowned out her voice, Kreviazuk was accused of ‘butchering’ the lyrics to the Canadian anthem by fans on social media, who brutally declared it ‘the worst rendition ever’.
