The result was the culmination of a midseason tournament that featured stars from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States — and a surprisingly political atmosphere.

Canada has beaten Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off in an overtime thriller, 3-2, Thursday night in Boston. Connor McDavid scored the game winner to become a national hero and hockey legend. After dropping the first meeting against Team USA on Saturday in Montreal,

Canada’s men’s hockey team defeated the USA 3-2 in overtime Thursday to capture the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off Championship as the NHL put on a show in the first edition of this midseason international tournament.

The U.S. and Canada men’s ice hockey teams, set to play in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament final on Thursday night, have come to represent more than just their athletic skill. On both sides of the border, the rivalry in the rink has been seen by some as an extension of the political tensions between the once-friendly allies.

Excluding NFL and college football broadcasts, Canada’s 3-2 overtime win was the network’s most-viewed event since the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. It was also the most-viewed non-NFL event ever on ESPN+.

Canada has beaten the United States after the two countries battled it out on the rink in a championship game that proved to be about more than just ice hockey. The 4 Nations Face Off final ended 3-2 in overtime.

Team USA came close to giving the President and his supporters a sort of first MAGA world title, but ultimately fell short in overtime.

"You can't take our country - and you can't take our game," Trudeau wrote on X. Canada's thrilling 3-2 overtime win in the 4 Nations Face Off final in Boston took place amid rising tensions between the two neighbours.