Boston – It is not frequent that I put chicken skin at the beginning of a sporting event, and last until the final bell. But that was the feeling I had while I saw the US team. He loses before the Canada team in the 4 -nations confrontation championship in TD Garden in Boston.
The beauty of American patriotism was on display, from the entire crowd singing the national anthem, to the final beep. It served as a beautiful reminder that this game was more than a game. It was the American people who joined for a common goal: to defeat our enemies.
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I have covered many sporting events in my career, but nothing compared to this. Do you have the opportunity to see my country to assume its greatest rival in hockey with a championship at stake? I am putting goosebumps, again, just thinking about it.
Jake Sanderson (85) of the United States congratulates herself after her goal against Canada during the second period of the hockey game of the 4 -nations confrontation championship, on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Kupa)
Before the game began, there was a drama about what could happen when the two countries had their national hymns sung in front of the contingent to a large extent by hand.
Would Americans boo the Canadian national anthem, as the Canadians did on Saturday in Montreal?
The answer was … more or less.
However, ultimately, this was never about Canada. It was the United States of America. That was at full exhibition when Mike Eruzione, the honorary captain of the US team for the championship game, reached the ice.
But it improved even more. While the Americans mainly respected the Canadian national anthem, which was first, the crowd sang the “starry banner” in unison, which led to one of the best sports moments that I have witnessed in my life.
The Americans barely booed the Canadian national anthem, then launch ‘the star banner’ on patriotic exhibition
It was easy to forget that there was still a hockey game to play, and a big one in that. The United States team seemed to feel in the same way, fighting early and, ultimately, renouncing a goal less than five minutes in the contest.
If the Canadians thought that the Americans would get used to their homeland, they were very wrong. While the US team. Uu. He fought to stand up early, the Americans continued to press, and continued hitting. Finally, the dirty work was worth the goal of draw at the end of the first period of, who else, Brady Tkachuk.
I know that journalists are supposed to be impartial, but are we? Do you think I was not supporting the United States? Be real.
Tkachuk’s goal tied the game to one, and thus remained in the first intermediate.
Canada’s goalkeeper Jordan Binnington, on the left, looks back to the album in a goal by Jake Sanderson in the United States during the second period of the hockey game of the confrontation championship of the 4 nations, on Thursday, February 20, 2025 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Kupa)
The second period continued in the same way. While Canada was the fastest and most qualified team, it had difficulty matching the physicality of Americans. That physicality, directed by Brady Tkachuk, was worth the second goal of the team uses in the middle of the frame.
Jake Sanderson scored the goals count, but it was the fierce fierce of Tkachuk and the presence in the network of the network that released the ice so that Sanderson would merge a Canadian pastor Jordan Binnington.
After the goal, American fans sang “Jor-dan, Jor-dan” in Binnington, in an attempt to hinder even more Canadian Netminder deception.
However, like Americans in the first period, Canada returned with a late marker to tie the score in both.
That goal sent the game to the third period tied.
The Americans took the game for much of the third period, shooting and leaving Canada, and dominating the possession of the album. But they couldn’t get the goal from the head.
When time began to mark the regulation, the tension was being built on TD Garden. You could literally feel it. But what else did anyone expect? There was only one way in which this game was going to end, and that was extra time.
Tied both after a third without goals, the teams went to OT of sudden death.
The United States had overtime opportunities, including a blank shot by the best team player, Auston Matthews.
But the failure to capitalize finally cost the Americans. The best Canada player, really the best hockey player on the planet, Connor McDavid, did not miss the game on his stick.
The Stunk result. There is no way to sweeten it. But seeing Americans gather to encourage their team and, more importantly, their country was more important than winning a hockey tournament.
And Team USA sent a message to Canada: you are not the only country that produces elite hockey players. The United States has returned, in every way of the word.
