“You Be The Judge of Who Was The Better Team” – Nathan MacKinnon, Silver Medalist
Poor Nathan MacKinnon.
He stood at the podium after the game and said “you be the judge of who was the better team today” with the energy of a man who cannot bring himself to say the words out loud. And look, we get it. Canada dominated long stretches of that game.
The ice was tilted for the better part of 40 minutes. The shots were not kind to the final scoreline. But the scoreboard is the scoreboard and the gold medal is around American necks right now so we are going to have to respectfully decline to do the judging.
Nathan MacKinnon. Poor guy.
WATCH: No better place in the world to be than in the USA Hockey locker room after defeating Canada
Here is the thing about Nathan MacKinnon that makes this all particularly painful for him. The man has spent his entire career in the shadow of Sidney Crosby in the most literal way possible. Born in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.
Same hometown as Crosby. Went to Shattuck St. Mary’s like Crosby. Played in the QMJHL like Crosby. Won a Stanley Cup like Crosby. Won a Hart Trophy like Crosby. If identity fraud were a hockey stat, MacKinnon would be leading the league.
The one thing he has never been able to replicate is Crosby delivering the golden goal in an Olympic gold medal game. And today he had his chance. The perfect opportunity. Wide open net, puck on his stick, the entire weight of Canadian hockey history sitting in that moment.
All Nathan MacKinnon had to do was put it in and he missed.
Not a tough save. Not a miraculous Hellebuyck stop. Nathan MacKinnon missed a wide open net in the biggest moment of his hockey life.
If that does not explain the postgame comments then nothing will.
More on USA Hockey:
- Promises Kept: USA Hockey honors Johnny Gaudreau after Gold Medal win
- 46 Years in the Making: Jack Hughes Gives USA Hockey Olympic Gold
- “I’m Getting Fucked Up Tonight” – Vincent Trocheck and the rest of the USA
Crosby could not play due to injury and tried everything to get on the ice. His absence loomed over the whole thing. Because when it came down to one shot to win an Olympic gold medal, 87 was not out there to take it. And 86, despite everything he has accomplished in his career, could not get it done when it mattered most.
Canada was a great team at these Olympics. They pushed the Americans harder than anyone. MacKinnon had a tremendous tournament. But Connor Hellebuyck shut the door every time it needed to be shut and Jack Hughes ended it in overtime.
Nathan MacKinnon is heading back to Colorado with a silver medal and the knowledge that the scoreboard said otherwise. He also got a great stuffed animal out of it. So there’s that.
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