Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon put on a show for Team Canada on Wednesday night in their 4 Nations Face-Off opener.
Wasting no time, MacKinnon struck first with a goal in under a minute, setting the tone for Canada’s thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over Sweden. The Avalanche star fired a game-high six shots on goal, with four coming in the extra session as he relentlessly pressured Swedish goaltender Filip Gustavsson. His persistence paid off after MacKinnon’s relentless attacks, Toronto’s Mitch Marner sealed the win 6:06 into OT, sending the Montreal crowd into a frenzy.
MacKinnon was a force in overtime, constantly creating space, showcasing his elite speed, and even taking the puck coast-to-coast in a dazzling display. Colorado fans loved every second of it, as their star forward fully embraced the 3-on-3 format with his signature aggression.
But not everyone was impressed. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski had an oddly critical take on MacKinnon’s performance, questioning his shot selection. His post on X, shared Thursday morning, seemed to suggest that MacKinnon was forcing plays despite the reigning Hart Trophy winner generating the best scoring chances all night.
MacKinnon, who leads the NHL with 66 assists in 57 games, is hardly a player known for selfishness. In fact, Avalanche fans often wish he’d shoot more instead of always looking to set up his teammates. The suggestion that he was overly trigger-happy, especially in a high-stakes OT battle, feels misplaced.
At the end of the day, MacKinnon delivered when it mattered most, helping Team Canada wear Sweden down and secure the win. He’ll be back in action Saturday against Team USA let’s just hope he doesn’t take too many shots and upset Wyshynski again.
