This was McDavid's biggest moment in the spotlight, scoring the golden goal in overtime in the 4 Nations Face-Off 15 years after Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal in overtime for Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. "I'm just really happy he scored," Crosby said. "He couldn't be more deserving an opportunity and that moment."

Few games have ever felt as high stakes as USA and Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game. So naturally, it took the best player of a generation to end it. Connor McDavid etched his name in Canadian hockey history with a golden goal on Thursday in Boston,

McDavid’s goal capped a final in which Canada twice erased Team USA leads. MacKinnon and Sam Bennett scored for Canada in regulation, while Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson found the net for the Americans.

U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 24 shots. It was the North American archrivals' first best-on-best championship meeting since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics -- also won by Canada 3-2 in overtime. The U.S. earned a 3-1 victory over Canada in the teams' round-robin clash on Saturday in Montreal.

And then - just like Sidney Crosby before him 15 years ago - the best player in the world came through for his team and his country. Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington made some ten-bell saves earlier on in the overtime period to keep Canada's hopes alive.

The Edmonton Oilers star scored the game-winning goal in overtime of Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off final showdown against Team USA at TD Garden in Boston. The 3-2 victory over the Americans gave Team Canada the last laugh in the mini-tournament, which also featured Finland and Sweden.

International hockey history has always been kind to Team Canada. Paul Henderson’s Summit Series heroics. Sidney Crosby’s shining moment in 2010. Gold in four of five best-on-best tournaments from 2002-16.

Connor McDavid is the best hockey player on the planet. He proved as much with his game-winner against Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off final.