Mitch Marner and NHL video coach break down Connor McDavid set play on Team Canada winner.
Connor McDavid’s overtime winner for Team Canada over Team USA will be remembered by hockey fans forever, and players and analysts are still breaking down the play.
It was a legacy moment for Connor McDavid, who still had a classic reaction of humility to his heroics . However, Mitch Marner and some NHL analysts have broken down the magic behind the goal.
Mitch Marner explains Connor McDavid’s overtime winner was a set play
During an intermission interview in Marner’s first game back from the 4 Nations break, the Leafs forward broke down just how McDavid’s goal was a set play that Canada executed perfectly on – and Marner used some unique skills.
On the faceoff we were trying to run a F3-high play. McDavid got through on the faceoff and got a shot off to the far side. I snuck away to the far corner. We were kind of just talking about sneaking away from their defence and finding quiet areas around the ice.
[Makar] ripped it around I thought it would be easier to put my foot against the wall. I work on a lot of things throughout summertime and in my life, picking up pucks on the wall with my feet, and use my feet a lot to my abilities.
It’s fascinating to hear Canada was able to run that play, get Connor McDavid some open space, for Marner to play the puck perfectly with his skate to his stick, and for McDavid to execute perfectly on the shot.
Another NHL analyst and former video coach did another fantastic breakdown of the goal, also highlighting that McDavid won the faceoff off a skill play by kicking his skate out to shelter a puck. The amount of details that contributed to the goal are astounding.
It was a truly perfect play that resulted in a dramatic, emotional goal, executed by the most talented players. It’s exactly what beat on best hockey should be.
Hopefully the 4 Nations Faceoff and Connor McDavid’s electric overtime winner is the beginning of another long era of international hockey.