Jordan Binnington was the difference-maker in Canada’s 3-2 overtime win over the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game on Thursday night.
He stood on his head to deny two of the Americans’ golden chances in the extra period.
Connor McDavid scored the OT winner, but it was Binnington’s Herculean effort in the extra period that kept the Canadians’ dreams alive.
Binnington finished the night with 31 saves — six of which came in OT.
His stops on American superstars Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk that wowed hockey fans captivated by the intense showdown between North American neighbors.
It was early in the overtime period when Team USA had the puck behind the Canadian net, and Jake Guentzel fed Matthews in front for what looked like it would be the game-winner.
Instead, Binnington knocked the shot away with his blocker to keep the game going.
Less than two minutes later, Binnington denied another Grade-A chance by the U.S. when he made a diving stop on Tkachuk, who was right on the side of the net.
Tkachuk had to take the extra second to settle the puck, and Binnington was able to slide over and make the glove stop to preserve the 2-2 score.
McDavid then scored the game-winning goal when he buried a shot from the slot that beat American netminder Connor Hellebuyck on the glove side.
It was a compelling ending to a tournament that was held in lieu of a traditional All-Star game, and one that helped tease the return of NHL players in the Winter Olympics in 2026.
The U.S. and Canada championship showdown came less than a week after the two sides faced one another earlier in the tournament on Saturday.
That game drew massive numbers in the U.S. and Canada, which the NHL said had a combined 10.1 million viewers across North American networks.
