Key events
Canada wins the 4 Nations Championship
Connor McDavid ends it out of nowhere. He suddenly appears in between the faceoff circles, takes a pass from Mitch Marner and smoothly rips it into the net.
11:50 left, 1st OT: It’s messy stuff here – which, again, probably favors the USA.
13:29 left, 1st OT: Finally a shot from Crosby, but it’s harmless.
15:29 left, 1st OT: HUGE STOP for Binnington! A giveaway puts Matthews through. Binnington stops that one, then scrambles back to rob Brady Tkachuk.
And ANOTHER off the faceoff, also from Matthews.
16:15 left, 1st OT: Marchand streaks through with a chance for a huge moment in his home arena, but he can’t get a clean shot away.
17:09 left, 1st OT: Replay shows Canada accidentally sent two guys out for one space, but one realized it and scrambled back before anyone could get called for having too many men on the ice.
McDavid tries to get something done, but he wastes one shot and then has the puck picked cleanly off his stick before he can shoot again.
Then a big chance for the USA, with Binnington stopping Matthews at point-blank range.
17:58 left, 1st OT: Eichel shoots from a tough angle. Brock Nelson shoots a few seconds later from nearly the same spot. Another strong start for the USA, but Hagel gets a shot the other way.
Stat of the night: Sidney Crosby doesn’t have a shot.
Puck is about to drop. So am I.
ESPN is replaying the Miracle montage from the pregame. Maybe we’re stuck in a loop.
But they’re getting ready to restart already.
For those new to how playoff hockey works in the NHL and NHL-adjacent events like this – they play until someone scores. Golden Goal. Sudden death. Sudden victory. They play 20-minute periods so they can still run the Zamboni.
End 3rd period: Canada 2-2 USA
A late flurry from Canada really should’ve ended this. McDavid was in front of the net but then drifted away.
ESPN notes that the last time the USA and Canada were tied after regulation in a big event, it was also 2-2 – in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Sidney Crosby scored the winner while I was at one end of the Peak-to-Peak gondola at Whistler.
Get out the caffeinated beverage of your choice. We may be here a while.
Canada 2-2 USA, 1:29 left, 3rd period: McKinnon gets a brief look and fires. Hellebuyck catches.
Canada 2-2 USA, 2:12 left, 3rd period: One too many passes on a US break.
Canada get back the other way, but Slavin plays the puck up into the rafters to ease some pressure.
Canada 2-2 USA, 3:30 left, 3rd period: My mind is starting to conflate music by great Canadian bands. “If I had a million dollars … though his MIND IS NOT FOR RENT! …”
Two more shots for the USA. Canada need to shake something up.
Canada 2-2 USA, 4:31 left, 3rd period: Is McDavid healthy? A lot of players in this tournament have been battling illness, and he just doesn’t look like himself.
Kreider unleashes an opportunistic shot that Binnington catches. Faceoff in the Canadian zone when we resume from the ad break.
Canada 2-2 USA, 5:37 left, 3rd period: Werenski rips a shot from the blue line. It’s blocked. The USA look much more likely to score.
Canada 2-2 USA, 6:40 left, 3rd period: Like Han Solo charging at a band of stormtroopers, Brad Marchand takes the puck and races through the US defense, but that was never going to work.
Canada 2-2 USA, 7:34 left, 3rd period: Canada really unable to get anything going offensively right now.
Meanwhile, Costa Rican side Saprissa scored in stoppage time to take a 2-1 lead after the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup tie vs. the Vancouver Whitecaps. Canada could really use some good news now.
Canada 2-2 USA, 9:46 left, 3rd period: One end – patient buildup for Canada, leading to an unimpressive shot.
Other end – Guentzel goes 1-on-3 and nearly scores.
Canada 2-2 USA, 10:47 left, 3rd period: US shot deflected up into the netting.
Canada weathered the early US storm this period. It’s anyone’s game right now.
Canada 2-2 USA, 12:06 left, 3rd period: What a game Slavin is having for the USA. The defenseman sprawls to block a shot with his shin.
Canada 2-2 USA, 12:41 left, 3rd period: The puck arcs up into the air near the Canadian net but is played to safety.
If you’re wondering who I’m rooting for, it’s very simple – I’m rooting for whoever scores next. If we have overtime, I’m going to be a zombie in the morning.
Canada 2-2 USA, 13:50 left, 3rd period: PING! Hagel gets a shot past Hellebuyck but hits the left post. So close to a 3-2 lead for the visitors.
Canada 2-2 USA, 14:55 left, 3rd period: Finally, some signs of life for the team in red. Hellebuyck smothers a rebound to give Canada a faceoff opportunity in the US zone.
Canada 2-2 USA, 16:00 left, 3rd period: HUGE save by Binnington. All the chances are at one end right now.
Canada 2-2 USA, 17:10 left, 3rd period: The USA have a sudden break, with Guentzel zipping through the center while Canada make a slow line change. He can’t get the puck past Binnington.
Canada 2-2 USA, 18:40 left, 3rd period: Neither team has established any rhythm as yet.
Shot attempts are 46-34, Canada. The Canadians have also spent more time in the US zone than the other way around.
And now McDavid is chewing on his mouthguard. How are these things even effective after all that?
Play resumes …
I appreciate this poignant note from Cindy Frederick: “I’m a non tv person but my hubby who passed away 5 years ago was a nut nut hockey fan. He would have been glued to the tv. I am enjoying your updates immensely. As a Canadian this is not just hockey for us. Thanks so much. Great job.”
Gregory Butler checks in again: “ I just had to say: I was watching a hockey game and got a curling match thrown in for free.”
I still think “I went to the fights last night, and a hockey game broke out” is a classic one-liner.
End 2nd period: Canada 2-2 USA
It’s a thriller, no doubt. But Canada have squandered so many chances to get ahead, and the USA have been much better in the third period in this tournament.
Back at the Scotties, Christina Black has indeed won to take second in Pool B. Bad luck for Quebec, as they miss out.
Black’s prize? She gets to face Rachel Homan in the playoffs tomorrow. Good luck.
Canada 2-2 USA, 1:00 left, 2nd period: Canada can look so impressive zipping the puck around in the US zone, but they just don’t get good shots out of it.
McDavid again has a half-chance that proves to be half-empty rather than half-full.
Canada 2-2 USA, 2:52 left, 2nd period: ESPN notes that Matthew Tkachuck just did a shift of about five seconds. Must not be feeling particularly well.
Again – can a dentist please speak with this US team about the harm of chewing on their mouthpieces like that? Dental work is more painful than a puck or a punch to the face.
Canada 2-2 USA, 4:17 left, 2nd period: Bit of a misplay by Binnington, but he covers it up.
3-on-2 for Canada, but McDavid’s shot is blocked. Quiet game for the Canadian star, who has a massive trophy case of NHL individual honors.
Canada 2-2 USA, 5:51 left, 2nd period: Game on! Things seemed to be inexorably turning the USA’s way, but that one play turned the game back on its head.
Hellebuyck doesn’t deserve too much of the blame here, but he’s been human tonight after two fantastic games earlier in the tournament.
All of the incoming email is full of praise that has me blushing – except for the one from Steve Chiu correcting the spelling of Werenski and informing me (just before the goal) that the expected goal count was 2.37 to 1.04 for Canada. He also asks me how it feels to be a Caps fan with no Caps in the tournament. Frankly, I don’t mind letting those guys get some rest. Can’t help feeling they’re overachieving right now. They’re nine points clear of the rest of the Eastern Conference.
GOAL! Canada 2-2 USA (Bennett 14:00)
Sam Bennett forces a turnover near the center line, dishes to Marner, then streaks up the ice to take a return pass from Marner and slip it over Hellebuyck’s shoulder. Brilliant play.
Canada 1-2 USA, 7:03 left, 2nd period: Larkin has been impressive several times in this game now. He slaloms through the neutral zone to set up the USA in the offensive third. But Canada regain possession.
Meanwhile, Einarson scores three in the 10th. She’s in the playoffs. Black (Nova Scotia) is poised to take the last spot.
Canada 1-2 USA, 7:25 left, 2nd period: Once again, a puck is there for Canada to poke home, and once again, they can’t do it. Crosby, one of the best ever (and it pains me to say that as a Washington Capitals fan), is just too slow to get his stick down to the ice, and Slavin knocks it away.
Canada 1-2 USA, 7:53 left, 2nd period: Marchand, the hometown hero playing for the visitors tonight, has a good look at the net but skies it high. He ends up taking a bit of a shove in the back after that. Then we once again see a Tkachuk brother chewing his mouthpiece. It’s really irritating. No wonder people want to fight them all the time.
Ad break, so let’s check in on the Scotties.
Black (Nova Scotia) is up 8-5 in the 10th and should be all but set for the playoffs. Einarson-Lawes is tied 6-6 in the 10th; Einarson has the hammer. Can you imagine Einarson not making the playoffs? Trust me – that would be a stunner.
Canada 1-2 USA, 8:53 left, 2nd period: Eichel’s stick shatters, which is less than ideal when you’re killing a penalty. But the USA clear and can reset.
After more Canadian pressure, the USA break clear 2-on-1, and Binnington comes up huge to stop Larkin.
Canada 1-2 USA, 11:03 left, 2nd period: We have a penalty! And it’s a truly stupid one. Deep in the Canadian zone, Trocheck lunges with his stick into a Canadian player’s legs. Easy call. Tripping, two minutes.
GOAL! Canada 1-2 USA (Sanderson 7:31)
Warensky unleashes a long shot, Matthews takes a swipe at the rebound, and it lands to Jake Sanderson for the open shot.
Canada 1-1 USA, 13:52 left, 2nd period: One of the Tkachuks starts to have a go at a Canadian player, but it’s quickly shrugged off.
More closed-glove shoves at the next stoppage.
Canada 1-1 USA, 14:22 left, 2nd period: NOW there’s a chance for the USA, with Binnington forced into all sorts of awkward contortions.
Replay shows it was Point who had the shot that trickled wide. McDavid was the last to touch it before then.
ESPN shows the scoring chances stat – 8-5 USA.
Canada 1-1 USA, 16:27 left, 2nd period: McDavid shot on the rebound goes JUST wide with Hellebuyck stranded.
Whoever tracks “expected goals” in hockey would surely tell us Canada is leading 4797.487 to 1.1 or something. Shots are 14-10 Canada.
Canada 1-1 USA, 17:37 left, 2nd period: The crowd yells for a penalty after Miller hits the ice near the center line, but nothing was there. The puck bounced up and hit him in the face – unfortunate, but not a penalty. Unless they want to send the puck to the penalty box, which would make the game difficult to play.
Canada 1-1 USA, 18:52 left, 2nd period: Bright start for Canada, with a prolonged possession and a couple of shots. McDavid then works his way through traffic but can’t get a clean shot away.
Kerry Galusha has played her last game at the Scotties. The perennial representative from Northwest Territories is retiring from high-level curling.
Second period underway in Boston …
One last email during the intermission, from Lesley Anne Forsyth: “Living in Calgary, AB and irritated by lack of coverage here unless we subscribe to ESPN. But as football & rugby fans, we use Fubo for Prem and rely on the Beeb and The Guardian for quality live coverage of everything. Amazed at the range of sports The Guardian does this for – thanks!”
I once covered Iceland’s handball team. They were hilarious. Pretty good, too.
Stevie Welland writes: “Thank you for writing these live updates! I’m cheering on Canada, my home country, from a bus on the way to Hanoi, Vietnam. I think Canada will pull through. We have more to prove.”
Funny – someone just asked in a message board I follow why hockey hasn’t caught on in Asia. Maybe you can convince everyone.
Jean Anne Wightman writes: “Thank-you to the Guardian for reporting on this and on the Scotties. I don’t think I ever saw Scotties on your sports page, very sweet. Here in Canada we could use a little love right now. Please encourage King Charles to come for a visit ASAP.”
I think I might take a year at some point and just go around Canada and Minnesota to major curling events.
Meanwhile, at the Scotties …
Danielle Inglis is cruising toward the playoffs. She’s up 9-2.
Christina Black is keeping the Nova Scotia push alive. She’s up 6-5 with hammer in the eighth.
The Manitoba Superteam showdown is close: 6-4 Einarson, but Lawes has hammer in the ninth.
Ell Pullen writes: “I’m happy to see someone in Britain talking about the four nations! I’m afraid I’m a brit who has little interest in rugby (or football, for that matter) so I’ve been trying to bring up the four nations while my mates talk about the six nations, to little avail.”
We’ve had several commenters from the UK this evening (morning in Britain), but I’m actually a lifelong US resident/citizen.
W Balenov writes: “Sadly it’s a long YouTube time transmission delay here on Mars. btw – The US arena they’re playing in is ironically named after a Canadian bank – Toronto Dominion Bank – TD”
One thing I love about watching Canadian curling is all the ads for farm equipment. It’s remarkably soothing.
Rianna F writes: “I’d really encourage everyone engaging with hockey for the first time to check out their local teams! The EIHL has brilliant hockey with tickets almost always under £20. GO NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS!”
I lived in Greensboro, NC, when the former Hartford Whalers moved south to become the Carolina Hurricanes. They played in Greensboro while waiting for the arena to be built in Raleigh, and attendance was … not great. I was able to get student tickets for $15 that were supposed to be way up in the upper level, but they pushed me down to the lower level to make it look like they had a crowd.
End 1st period: Canada 1-1 USA
Stats:
10-10 shots
0 penalties!
USA 14-7 edge in hits
A lot of mail has come in – will get to it shortly.
Elsewhere inside the building, it’s getting chippy in the upper deck.
Canada 1-1 USA, 1:00 left, 1st period: It’s messy now. Advantage USA.
GOAL! Canada 1-1 USA (B Tkachuk 16:52)
Matthews goes around the net and pushes the puck into a gaggle of players in front of the net. Canadian players are slow to react. Tkachuk pokes it home.
What’d I say about missed chances?
Canada 1-0 USA, 3:15 left, 1st period: Shots are even at nine each now, but the USA can’t look back at any particular chance and say they should’ve done better. Canada may rue a lack of finishing in this period.
Canada 1-0 USA, 4:05 left, 1st period: Since I posted that stat, the USA have reeled off a string of faceoff wins.
Both teams are making some truly sloppy passes right now.
Corey Anders writes: “My girlfriend is Canadian. I’m US. It’s a challenging evening.”
Hey, I went to Duke and my wife went to North Carolina. Similar, minus the political undercurrents.
