BOSTON — As the Canadian national anthem echoed through the arena for the second time Thursday evening, there were no American supporters left to jeer.

Instead, the Canadian squad stood united at the blue line, their players, coaching staff, and supporters all donning championship caps while the maple leaf flag gracefully descended behind the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy. The remaining fans, many proudly wearing their red Team Canada jerseys, joyfully sang along.

Connor McDavid netted the decisive goal at 8:18 of overtime, leading Canada to a 3-2 triumph over the United States. What began as a warm-up for the upcoming 2026 Olympics transformed into a fierce geopolitical clash over national anthems and competitive dominance in international hockey.

“Witnessing the reaction means so much to us. This may be just a short tournament and not an Olympic gold, but it means everything to our team, as you can see,” McDavid expressed.

“I sincerely hope (the new fans) enjoy the experience,” he continued. “Hockey is an incredible sport, and I hope we’ve put on a worthwhile show over the past few days, ultimately drawing in more fans. You couldn’t ask for a better spectacle than what we delivered.”

Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett also contributed goals for Canada. Goaltender Jordan Binnington made 25 saves during regulation and six more in overtime, showcasing the skills that allowed him to help the St. Louis Blues lift the Stanley Cup as a rookie five years prior.

For the Americans, Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson found the back of the net, with Connor Hellebuyck making 22 saves in regulation plus three more in overtime.

The rivalry, already intense, intensified further due to recent cross-border tensions tied to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and contentious discussions about the possibility of Canada becoming the 51st state. Just before the match, Trump reached out to the American team to express his well wishes, simultaneously taking to social media to poke fun at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding annexation remarks.

This politically charged atmosphere, alongside the high stakes of the matchup, created a playoff-like intensity reminiscent of a Stanley Cup Final or Olympic gold medal game within TD Garden.

Fans clad in team colors waved flags, cheered for their players, and continued the tradition of booing the opposing national anthem—an increasingly common occurrence amidst what many consider one of the best international hockey tournaments in years.

The American supporters rallied behind their team with chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” In the third period, cheers of “Johnny Hockey! Johnny Hockey!” honored former Boston College and Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau, whose life was tragically cut short last summer by a drunk driver while he and his brother were cycling in New Jersey on the eve of their sister’s wedding.

Mike Eruzione, the “Miracle on Ice” Olympic legend and honorary U.S. captain, donned a Gaudreau jersey for a ceremonial puck drop alongside Canadian icon Wayne Gretzky.

The game was tied 2-2 at the end of two periods, remaining even through the third and the opening minutes of overtime. Following a series of spectacular saves by Binnington, Canada secured a faceoff in the U.S. zone. Mitch Marner maneuvered along the boards to set up McDavid in the center.

“I didn’t have my best game, to be honest,” McDavid admitted. “All I kept thinking was to persist. I struggled for most of the night, but my teammates were fantastic, and we found a way to win.”

This report includes contributions from the Associated Press.