Just over eight minutes into overtime, Edmonton's star Connor McDavid snapped the puck into the net for the decisive 3-2 goal for Canada behind USA goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck.
I know it's a short tournament and it's not an Olympic gold or so. But it means everything to our team, says McDavid.
I hope we've provided good entertainment over the past few days and gained some new fans.
It wasn't just the world's two heaviest hockey nations that battled for victory in the first national team tournament with NHL pros in nine years (with Sweden and Finland as other participating countries).
Political dimension
The final at TD Garden in Boston also got a political dimension after Donald Trump's statement that Canada should become part of the USA.
"Canada will one day, maybe soon, become our beloved and very important 51st state", wrote the US President on Truth Social just hours before the match.
Trump also called Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "Governor Trudeau" earlier in the day, according to news agency AP.
"Perfect storm"
The American team ultimately disappointed Trump.
The score was 2-2 at full time. Canada took the lead in the first period, but the USA equalized and then took the lead 2-1 in the second, in front of their home crowd. Sam Bennett equalized for Canada later in the same period. The third period was goalless.
There's a lot going on between Canada and the USA right now, and playing against each other was like a perfect storm for our sport, says Canadian star Nathan MacKinnon, who was chosen as the tournament's most valuable player after scoring four goals in four matches, to AP.
In just a year, all NHL stars will be back again in the Olympic Games in Milano and Cortina.
