McDavid to Crosby to MacKinnon, Canada’s power play opens the 4 Nations Face-Off with a bang
McDavid to Crosby to MacKinnon, Canada’s power play opens the 4 Nations Face-Off with a bang
Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon (29) scores against Sweden goaltender Filip Gustavsson during the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal over Sweden with teammates, from left to right, Cale Makar (8), Sam Reinhart (13), Sidney Crosby (87) and Connor McDavid (97) during the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada forward Mark Stone (61) celebrates his goal over Sweden goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) with Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Sidney Crosby (87) during the second period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal over Sweden with teammates during the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon (29) scores against Sweden goaltender Filip Gustavsson during the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon (29) scores against Sweden goaltender Filip Gustavsson during the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal over Sweden with teammates, from left to right, Cale Makar (8), Sam Reinhart (13), Sidney Crosby (87) and Connor McDavid (97) during the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal over Sweden with teammates, from left to right, Cale Makar (8), Sam Reinhart (13), Sidney Crosby (87) and Connor McDavid (97) during the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada forward Mark Stone (61) celebrates his goal over Sweden goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) with Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Sidney Crosby (87) during the second period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada forward Mark Stone (61) celebrates his goal over Sweden goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) with Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Sidney Crosby (87) during the second period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal over Sweden with teammates during the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal over Sweden with teammates during the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
MONTREAL (AP) — Canada’s absurdly talented power play did not take long to make a difference at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Wednesday night.
With Sweden’s William Nylander in the penalty box for high-sticking, Connor McDavid got the puck to Sidney Crosby, who found Nathan MacKinnon wide open with a no-look pass for the first goal of the tournament just 12 seconds into the power play and 56 seconds into the game. There was almost nothing goaltender Filip Gustavsson to do to stop the shot.
“There’s a lot of talk about that first unit (and) a lot of nerves, honestly,” MacKinnon said. “I haven’t played best on best for Team Canada ever, so definitely a lot of adrenaline, a lot of nerves, so it was nice to get an open net early. It definitely settled me in. Really great play by Connor and Sid.”
Coach Jon Cooper put all of his top NHL regular-season and playoff MVPs and Stanley Cup champions together with a unit of McDavid, Crosby, MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Sam Reinhart. It was obvious from the first practice Monday that the group had the potential of being special.
“Obviously a ton of talent, a ton of skill,” Crosby said that day. “Having to think and move quickly and that sort of thing — be instinctive but also react to some of the plays that they make. I think that’s fun.”
Makar said he enjoys just watching his teammates work from his spot on the point.
“We got fast players that can move around the zone, but we’ve got to make sure we stay a threat,” Makar said. “For us, it’s cool. Obviously they can all interchange, but it’s a lot of fun watching those guys.”
This is the first time McDavid, Crosby and MacKinnon are on the same Canada team in international play. Cooper, who considers the 1987 Canada Cup the best display of the sport in hockey history, said of his roster, “There’s just weapons all over the ice.”
“It’s really fun — really fun to know that everybody can think on the same level, can execute on the same level,” McDavid said after his team’s 4-3 overtime victory. “It’s really, really fun. We’ve worked hard at it the two days at practice. Obviously we had 10 seconds of power-play time, but we made it worthwhile. Fun unit to be. Going to be a lot more work to go, but it was a good start.”
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