Connor McDavid proved once again why he’s hockey’s biggest star, scoring an incredible overtime winner to give Canada a thrilling 3-2 victory over Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship.
The goal came 8:18 into overtime, with McDavid firing a laser into the top corner that sent the Canadian crowd into a frenzy.
But Canada might not have even made it to overtime without Jordan Binnington’s heroics in goal. Playing in the same building where he won the 2019 Stanley Cup, Binnington came up huge multiple times, including two spectacular saves against American sniper Auston Matthews.
The win felt like déjà vu for Canadian fans, bringing back memories of Sidney Crosby’s golden goal against the U.S. at the 2010 Olympics.
But this tournament was about more than just one game. It showed just how bright hockey’s future is looking.
“This was huge for hockey fans everywhere,” says Chris Bengel, who covers the sport. “We haven’t seen the world’s best players compete against each other since 2016. Getting to watch guys like McDavid, Matthews, and MacKinnon represent their countries was pretty special.”
Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs got some tough news about their young superstar. Victor Wembanyama will miss the rest of the season after doctors found a blood clot in his shoulder.
The 21-year-old phenom had been putting up incredible numbers – 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.8 blocks per game. Only legends like Kareem, Hakeem, and The Admiral have matched those stats over a full season.
The Spurs are staying positive, believing this is just a one-time issue. Other NBA players have dealt with similar blood clots before – Brandon Ingram had the same problem in 2019 and came back stronger than ever, winning Most Improved Player the next season.
The injury opens up the Defensive Player of the Year race, which Wembanyama was running away with. Players need 65 games to qualify for awards, and he’ll finish with just 46.
It also likely means the Spurs are headed to the lottery – which might not be the worst thing. This year’s draft class is loaded with talent, and it could be their last chance to add another young star before Wembanyama leads them back to the playoffs for years to come.
[Article continues with NBA rankings and weekend viewing guide in similar conversational style…]
