Backstopping the U.S. to statement wins in the 4 Nations Face-Off is just the latest piece of the argument. What do the other all-time greats say?

Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday night as the North American rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into a geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy.

Team USA came up short in a thrilling 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada, but it wasn't the fault of Zach Werenski or Connor Hellebuyck.

(Graham Hughes//The Canadian Press via AP) United States goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) celebrates a win over Canada with Charlie McAvoy (25) in the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian ...

Canada has three of the top four individual skaters in terms of 20-plus mph speed bursts: McDavid (23; first), MacKinnon (19; second) and Point (16; fourth), while Eichel leads the U.S. (18; third). In their first matchup of the tournament, Canada had 43 such speed bursts, compared to 28 for the U.S.

Connor McDavid scored the overtime winner to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States in the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

United States' Dylan Larkin (21 ... off the opening faceoff to big hits from Charlie McAvoy on Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid and more than a few vital saves by Connor Hellebuyck among his 24. And the U.S. showed it could keep up with Canada’s speed ...

The United States dodged a bullet with less than 15 minutes left in the game when Brandon Hagel’s shot got past Connor Hellebuyck, but the puck hit the left post and bounced away from the net.

Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the Americans, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots ... of the round-robin game, which the United States won 3-1 on Saturday, to bring the atmosphere ...