In an ice hockey grudge match of border rivals fueled by political tensions, Canada defeated the United States 3-2 in overtime to win the Four Nations Face-Off final.
Canada’s Connor McDavid scored the title-winning goal off a pass from Mitch Marner to deliver Canada the victory after enduring political barbs from US President Donald Trump about being the 51st state.
Outgoing Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, said US cannot take its country and game.
Meanwhile, in the fight for bragging rights ahead of next year’s Winter Olympics in Italy, Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington made several great saves early in overtime and 33 in all.
The tone for a gripping contest was set when microphone-wearing referee Gord Dwyer said, Let’s get ready for an epic battle, just before dropping the puck to start the game, which went off without any brawling.
Meanwhile, a sellout crowd at Boston’s TD Garden produced an electric atmosphere for one of the most hotly anticipated hockey games for years, an emotionally charged spectacle intensified by recent political sparring between the two North American neighbors.
