Connor McDavid had his eyes on the prize, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And when Mitch Marner sent that beauty of a pass straight to him, McDavid didn’t hesitate. With a flick of his stick and the speed of a lightning bolt, he ripped the puck past Connor Hellebuyck’s glove at 8:18 in overtime—game over, Canada wins! McDavid nearly lost his footing from pure adrenaline, and his teammates swarmed him against the glass. An absolute thriller, a storybook ending, and a moment that’s already etched into hockey history.
Canada reminded the world who runs the show, securing their 10th best-on-best tournament win in dominant fashion. But hold up—before McDavid worked his magic, something else was brewing behind the scenes. Coach Jon Cooper had a little something to say, a message that might’ve been the secret ingredient to Canada’s overtime glory. So, what exactly did he tell them? Well, let’s just say the mystery has finally been cracked, and it’s time to spill the tea on what went down in those final moments before McDavid cemented his legend!
The hockey gods must’ve been listening because Jon Cooper called it exactly how it happened! In a video posted by B/R Open Ice on X on February 21, the Canadian coach was pacing the sidelines, looking like a man on a mission as he shouted, “Somebody be selfish and shoot it in the net.” And as if the universe was waiting for that cue, McDavid wasted zero time—he took the shot, and boom, goal! Just like that, Canada clinched the win in the most electric way possible.
The bench went absolutely wild—teammates sprinted towards McDavid, Coach Cooper lost his mind in celebration, and the arena erupted like a championship moment straight out of a sports movie. The post itself summed it up perfectly: “Jon Cooper: ‘Somebody be selfish and shoot it in the net.’ Connor McDavid: *scores on the very next shot*.” Talk about manifesting greatness!
Jon Cooper: “Somebody be selfish and shoot it in the net.”
Connor McDavid: *scores on the very next shot* pic.twitter.com/mz6rKKHwY8
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 21, 2025
Some might say the torch was passed, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Flashback to 2010—13-year-old Connor McDavid watched Sidney Crosby etch his name in history with the legendary “Golden Goal.” A 2-2 deadlock, overtime drama, and then—boom—Crosby sent Canada into euphoria. Fast forward to now, and it’s McDavid, all grown up, rocking the same jersey, delivering his own 3-2 overtime magic. But hold up—McDavid isn’t ready to take the torch just yet. “I think you’re going to see Sid in 12 months,” he said, shutting down the idea. “Sid had a great tournament. He was a big part of our group, and I think you’ll see him in a year’s time.”
And he’s got a point. Crosby and McDavid both dropped five points in four games, trailing only Zach Werenski’s six-assist masterclass. One legend still going strong, another carving his own legacy—it’s not a passing of the torch, it’s two flames burning side by side. And let’s be real, the hockey world is already buzzing at the thought of these two rocking the same maple leaf in Milan 2026. And yup, another teammate of Connor McDavid praised him while highlighting USA’s mistake of leaving him in the open!
Connor McDavid gets praised!
Team Canada locked down that victory, but while Connor McDavid was busy crafting his perfect finish, Nathan MacKinnon had a few words about Team USA’s biggest slip-up of the night. And let’s just say…he did not sugarcoat it. When asked about Matthew Tkachuk’s bold “It’s our time” statement from last Saturday, MacKinnon didn’t miss a beat. “Yeah, it’s tough. I mean, obviously, you know, I thought we played a really good game, and over time they kind of took over, honestly.” And he wasn’t wrong—Team USA came in swinging, but Canada stayed cool, composed, and locked in. Then came the game-changer: Jordan Binnington.
MacKinnon made sure to give his goalie his flowers, because Binnington was on another level. “Binnington was unbelievable, the saves he was making, you know, and we just needed kind of one look.” And that one look? Oh, it came alright—and when Connor McDavid is left wide open, there’s only ever one outcome. “Yeah, Connor was very open, so that was nice. Usually, when he’s that open, it’s in the net, so very exciting.” No lies detected. One golden opportunity, one flick of McDavid’s stick, and just like that, Canada flipped the script.
But let’s be real—this wasn’t just a game. It was a battle for bragging rights, the latest chapter in the never-ending Canada-USA saga. And this time? The boys in red and white took their moment and ran with it. “I think, you know, we’re neck and neck, USA and Canada, but it feels good to, you know, be on top this time.” No better way to say it. Team USA talked the talk, but Canada walked away with the crown.
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