Mitch Marner scored at 6:06 of 3-on-3 overtime as Canada edged Sweden 4-3 to open the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament Wednesday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs winger ended a back-and-forth extra period where both teams had plenty of chances to secure the win when he ripped a shot upstairs on Filip Gustavsson.
Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand and Mark Stone had the other goals for the Canadians, who got 23 saves from Jordan Binnington. Sidney Crosby added three assists in NHL players’ return to high-level international competition.
Jonas Brodin, Adrian Kempe and Joel Eriksson Ek replied for the Swedes. Gustavsson stopped 24 shots. Lucas Raymond chipped in two assists.
WATCH | Marner’s OT marker helps Canada edge Sweden in 4 Nations Face-Off opener:
Canada edges Sweden 4-3 with Mitch Marner’s overtime goal in the opening game of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Sidney Crosby records three assists.
Canada earned two points in the standings for the extra-time victory, while Sweden secured one for the loss after regulation.
The United States and Finland meet Thursday in those countries’ first games at the round-robin event that’s serving as an appetizer ahead of the NHL’s return to the Olympics in 2026.
Russia isn’t part of this tournament because of its ongoing war in Ukraine, while reigning world champion Czechia is also on the outside looking in due to a competition-compressed window.
The 4 Nations will see four games at the Bell Centre before the showcase shifts to Boston for two more contests and the Feb. 20 final.
WATCH | Montreal ready to play host as 4 Nations Face-Off begins:
The Bell Centre is the first of two venues, hosting most of the world’s biggest hockey stars as they play for their country in a best-on-best tournament for the first time in nearly a decade.
After a deafening ovations for Crosby and Mario Lemieux — and a rousing rendition of “O Canada” ahead of Wednesday’s opening faceoff — Canada struck on a power play just 56 seconds into the first period.
Connor McDavid fed Crosby down low before he quickly found MacKinnon, a fellow Cole Harbour, N.S., product, in front with a slick no-look pass on a lethal first-unit power play that also includes Sam Reinhart and Cale Makar.
Sweden finally got its first shot on target with more than 15 minutes gone when Gustav Forsling snapped a puck into Binnington’s glove.
The Scandivians got on the board at 9:33 of the second when Brodin fired a shot by the Canadian netminder’s ear.
The Swedes continued to carry the play as the period wore on until Crosby went back to work.
WATCH | Canada, U.S. players focused on hockey despite tarrif tensions:
The star-studded mini tournament is happening at a moment when tensions between Canada and the United States are high.
Canada’s 37-year-old captain — an injury concern ahead of the tournament — raced into the offensive zone before stopping up and finding a hard-charging Stone for him to bury a shot five-hole on Gustavsson to again blow the roof off the frothing rink.
Kempe cut the deficit to 3-2 at 1:54 of the third off the rush on a shot that flew past Binnington. Canada’s crease was a significant talking point coming into the 4 Nations with Binnington, Adin Hill and Sam Montembeault having all had less-than stellar campaigns for their NHL teams.
Eriksson Ek got Sweden back on level terms at 8:59 on a Jesper Bratt setup at the lip of Canada’s crease.
Gustavsson then made a huge saves on Devon Toews and Makar before Canada had to kill a Josh Morrissey penalty for high-sticking to set up the dramatic finish.
