Connor McDavid was visibly shaken after Canada's heart-wrenching 2-1 overtime defeat to the United States in the gold medal game. The Edmonton Oilers captain, who had been the driving force for Canada throughout the tournament, struggled to put his emotions into words during a brief interview in the tunnel.
"Disappointed, obviously," McDavid managed to say. "Just kind of a scramble play.
A scramble play. Just disappointed."
The game turned on a dime when Jack Hughes scored just 1:41 into 3-on-3 overtime, slipping the puck past Jordan Binnington on a pass from Zach Werenski. It was a bitter end for McDavid, who had been kept off the scoresheet for the first time in the tournament.
Despite the heartbreak, McDavid didn't shy away from acknowledging the standout performance of U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
"Thought we played a great game," McDavid said. "Their goalie played really, really well."
Hellebuyck was indeed a wall, stopping 41 of 42 shots. Canada dominated possession, outshooting the U.S. 42-28 and creating numerous top-tier scoring chances, including open nets and a lengthy five-on-three power play.
When asked about the future, McDavid's response was succinct: "Just move on. Onward."
He attempted to find a silver lining, though his words carried the weight of the loss.
"Good experience, obviously. A disappointing end.
It was a hard fight to get to this point, and proud of the guys to get to this point. Thanks," he said.
With that, McDavid stepped aside. Sidney Crosby and head coach Jon Cooper later took on the media, providing McDavid some respite from the immediate aftermath.
McDavid's Tournament Brilliance
McDavid's performance over the tournament was nothing short of historic. He tallied 13 points (2 goals, 11 assists) in six games, setting a new record for the highest single-tournament total by an NHL player in Winter Olympics history. This achievement surpassed the previous record held by Finland's Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu.
He led the tournament in scoring, earning MVP and Best Forward honors, and was named to the Olympic All-Star Team alongside fellow Canadians Cale Makar and Macklin Celebrini.
However, unlike the previous year's 4 Nations Face-Off where McDavid helped secure gold for Canada, this tournament ended in a narrow overtime defeat.
Injury Concerns
Adding to the emotional toll, sharp-eyed fans noticed McDavid's right hand appeared taped during the post-game handshake, specifically his middle and ring fingers. This may explain some uncharacteristic moments in his play, where his puck handling seemed slightly off.
His Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl, representing Germany, was also seen managing a hand injury during the tournament. With the NHL season resuming, Edmonton faces the challenge of both superstars potentially being less than 100% for the final stretch.