Canada took on Latvia on Monday in a game that should've been a one-way affair, but ended up going to overtime and needing a big moment to decide a winner.
Enter Connor McDavid.
The Edmonton Oilers' superstar is Canada's leading scorer in the 2018 IIHF World Championship, to no one's surprise. And on Monday he showed that he can step up in the big moments for Canada, and do so with the kind of flair and style that has catapulted him to the top of the hockey world at just 21 years of age.
After the Latvians put on a fine defensive display to stifle the Canadian attack and limit Canada to just one goal over 60 minutes of play, McDavid needed just 46 seconds to get the deciding goal. Finding himself with space to work right down the centre of the Latvian zone, McDavid drove toward the net before getting around a sprawling opponent and unleashing a wrist shot from in close.
Latvian goaltender Kristers Gudļevskis did well to get his right pad in the way, but the puck rebounded straight to McDavid, who backhanded it in mid-air and into the net to end the game.
McDavid wins it for @HC_Men in OT after burying his own rebound off an amazing first stop by Gudlevskis #CANvsLAT #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/nhFNlQz3tG
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 14, 2018
The goal, which was briefly reviewed, gave Canada a 2-1 win and clinched a spot in the medal round for McDavid and his teammates.