Watch: Connor McDavid's OT goal lifts Canada over USA

Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) celebrates scoring in overtime to win with defenseman Devon Toews (5) and defenseman Cale Makar (8) and forward Mitch Marner (16) against Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Watch: Connor McDavid's OT goal lifts Canada to 4 Nations Face-Off championship

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Feb 20, 2025 11:56 PM ET

Connor McDavid ( Edmonton Oilers) is the most dominant offensive player in the NHL and one of the league's biggest stars. But for all of his individual awards, massive numbers and highlight-reel plays, his career has still been missing a signature moment.

He delivered that signature moment on Thursday night.

That was when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the 4 Nations Face-Off to give Canada a 3-2 win over the United States.

Here is a look at the play.

THERE IT IS! THE GAME WINNER! THE TOURNAMENT WINNER!

CONNOR MCDAVID HAS WON IT FOR CANADA!!! #4Nations pic.twitter.com/nDneA2e26K
— NHL (@NHL) February 21, 2025

McDavid was not at his best on Thursday night and was oddly quiet for much of the game. He still managed to deliver at the biggest moment.

McDavid's goal came just a few minutes after Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues) made a series of highlight-reel saves at the other end of the rink to keep his team in the game, robbing both Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators) and Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) on multiple prime scoring chances.

This was the first best-on-best tournament involving NHL players since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and it more than delivered. Now we get to see it again in 2026 when the NHL makes its return to the Winter Olympics.

Canada and the United States will both be among the gold-medal favorites. If these two games in this tournament were any indication of what is ahead, those games could also be classics.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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