Hockey Scores Last Night: Canada Wins 4 Nations Face-Off

If you woke up wondering who won last night’s big hockey game, the answer came in overtime. The 4 Nations Face-Off championship delivered a classic Canada–USA showdown that went down to the wire.

Game: Canada vs. USA · Result: Canada 3, USA 2 (OT) · Tournament MVP: Nathan MacKinnon (4 goals)

Six key facts from last night’s championship tilt — one stands out: the game turned on a single overtime shift.

Who won the big hockey game last night?

The biggest contest on ice last night was the 4 Nations Face-Off championship, where Team Canada defeated Team USA 3-2 in overtime. Connor McDavid’s winner 8:18 into the extra period sealed the victory for Canada at TD Garden in Boston (NHL.com (official league site)).

No NHL regular-season games were played last night. The 4 Nations tournament – featuring NHL stars from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States – served as the premier hockey event of the evening (USA Hockey (national governing body)).

The pattern: Canada’s resilience in overtime vs. USA’s inability to finish when it mattered most.

Game recap: Canada 3, USA 2 (OT)

• Canada opened scoring on a goal by Nathan MacKinnon, assisted by Mitch Marner (NHL.com).
• Brady Tkachuk tied the game for the USA in the first period (NHL.com).
• Sam Bennett put Canada ahead again, but Jake Sanderson answered for the USA to force overtime (NHL.com).
• Connor McDavid ended it with a rush in the extra frame, beating Connor Hellebuyck glove side (NHL.com).

The pattern: Canada’s depth scoring (MacKinnon, Bennett, McDavid) versus USA’s physical push (Tkachuk, Sanderson). The difference was McDavid’s world-class speed in open ice.

Who scored for Canada and the USA?

Let’s break down the contributions by team.

Canada’s scorers

• Nathan MacKinnon – 1 goal (tournament lead: 4 goals total) (NHL.com)
• Sam Bennett – 1 goal (NHL.com)
• Connor McDavid – 1 goal (OT winner) (NHL.com)
• Mitch Marner – 2 assists (NHL.com)
• Jordan Binnington – 31 saves, including 6 in OT (NHL.com)

USA’s scorers

• Brady Tkachuk – 1 goal (NHL.com)
• Jake Sanderson – 1 goal (NHL.com)
• Auston Matthews – 2 assists (NHL.com)
• Connor Hellebuyck – 24 saves (NHL.com)

The takeaway: Canada’s depth across three forward lines vs. USA’s reliance on their top pairing and power play.

When and where was the 4 Nations Face-Off held?

The tournament ran from February 12 to February 20, 2025, with preliminary games at Bell Centre in Montreal and the final at TD Garden in Boston (USA Hockey (national governing body)). Each team played one game against each other in a round-robin format, followed by a championship game between the top two teams (NHL Records (official historical database)). Canada went 2-1-0-0 in the round robin for 4 points (Hockey Canada (national federation)). The USA went 1-0-1-1 and finished second (USA Hockey).

Round-robin highlights

• Feb 15: USA defeated Canada 3-1 in Montreal (USA Hockey)
• Feb 17: Canada beat Finland 5-3 in Boston (USA Hockey)
• Feb 17: Sweden beat USA 2-1 in Boston (USA Hockey)

The implication: The round robin set up a dramatic final where the USA held momentum from the earlier win, but Canada’s adjustments proved decisive.

What is the 4 Nations Face-Off?

The 4 Nations Face-Off is a best-on-best international hockey tournament featuring NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States. It serves as a precursor to a potential return of the World Cup of Hockey (USA Hockey). The event was organized by the NHL and NHLPA to bring elite international hockey back to a regular schedule after the 2016 World Cup.

Key format facts

• Round-robin: each team played three games (NHL Records)
• Top two teams advanced to a one-game championship (NHL Records)
• All games used NHL rules and officials

What this means: The success of this event could accelerate the return of a full World Cup of Hockey.

What’s next for the teams?

With the 4 Nations Face-Off concluded, NHL regular season action resumes. Both Canada and USA rosters return to their respective NHL clubs for the playoff stretch. The next international tournament on the calendar is the IIHF World Championship in May, though many stars may rest. For Canadian hockey fans, the win provides momentum heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics, where NHL players are expected to participate.

The catch: The real test of this generation’s legacy will come in 2026.

Timeline of last night’s event

The story: A back-and-forth classic decided by one moment of brilliance.

What we know for sure, and what’s still unclear

The balance: Most facts are locked in, but the bigger international calendar depends on NHL cooperation.

Voices from the game

“Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime to give Canada a 3-2 win against the United States in the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off at TD Garden.”

— NHL.com game recap (NHL.com (official league site))

“Jordan Binnington made 31 saves, including six in overtime, for Canada.”

— NHL.com (NHL.com)

The implication for Canadian hockey fans is clear: the national team’s depth and resilience under pressure remain elite. For the USA, the close loss signals that the gap at the top is small, but closing it requires more than one tournament.

Frequently Asked Questions

For Canadian hockey fans, the takeaway is that this generation of stars delivered under the brightest lights. For American fans, the silver medal stings, but the gap is narrow – and the rivalry only gets better from here.