The week-long hockey showdown, known as the 4 Nations Face-Off, has reached its conclusion after a series of thrilling matches. In a thrilling conclusion at TD Garden, Canada’s Connor McDavid netted the decisive goal in overtime, leading the red sweaters to a tense 3-2 victory against Team USA. The seemingly lifeless free bird has ignited a wave of fury among American fans, all stemming from a critical error made by Auston Matthews.

The forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs faced a significant critique upon being named “Captain America” for the 4 Nations Face-Off team, with remarks such as, “USA getting the boot in the 1st round,” emerging in response. Nonetheless, although Matthews undoubtedly overcame those accusations following Team USA’s advancement to the championship match, the situation took an unexpected twist after McDavid’s significant goal at TD Garden.

The official X profile of The Grind Line Podcast stated, “Auston Matthews leaves McDavid wide open. Typical Leaf to blow a game.” Footage showed that the intensity of the game escalated with 11:50 left on the clock. McDavid attempted a shot, but it missed the mark. As the puck found its way to Cale Makar, he deftly tapped it, redirecting it towards Mitch Marner. And as two American hockey players closed in on the Leafs forward, he carefully passed the puck to McDavid.

With the alternate captain of Team Canada facing no defenders, he sent the puck soaring into Team USA’s net. Almost instantly, skepticism arose regarding Auston Matthews, who was in close proximity to McDavid, yet he refrained from applying any pressure on the Canadian star.

Indeed, it was clear that McDavid’s influence was enough to completely alter the course of the match. This disappointing 3-2 defeat means Matthews will have to wait to silence the “Mr. No Cups” narrative unless he can clinch a championship for Team USA or bring home a Stanley Cup with the Maple Leafs in the future. Clearly, the reaction from American fans toward the Team USA captain following this critical error was far from forgiving, as evidenced by social media comments.

They aren’t forgiving Auston Matthews that easily

Hockey is a sport brimming with emotions. The championship game featured a fierce showdown between Team USA and Canada, marked by high stakes for both teams due to their longstanding rivalry in the sport, compounded by the current political tensions.

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Nevertheless, putting everything else aside, all attention was directed at Auston Matthews, with one observer remarking, “I watched it 3 times on slow mo to figure out how in the blue F— that happened.” A fan emphasized the potential for a better choice, remarking, “Yet another reason (Dylan) Larkin should’ve been the captain of this team smh.” Highlighting yet another statistic, this fan remarked, “Let’s not forget the 4 scoring chances he had to end it. Dudes a leaf not clutch.”

Has Auston Matthews made no contributions in the championship game against Canada? No, not at all. Upon examining the assists, it is evident that he recorded two during the match. The captain set up both goals scored by Team USA, netted by Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson in the first and second periods, respectively. However, in spite of all the attempts, the error involving McDavid overshadowed everything, “blew it in the o zone and the d zone in OT. absolute disaster class from him,” a fan commented.

In a similar vein, another supporter remarked, “If USA was going to lose, it couldn’t happen in a better way, so we can trash Auston f—–g Matthews.” The conclusion of the 4 Nations Face-Off certainly left an impact, culminating in a dramatic finale.

Undoubtedly, the focus extends beyond merely the victors; it encompasses the overall success that the tournament achieved, even in light of the criticism it encountered at the time of its announcement. This weekend marks the much-anticipated return of the NHL, and fans are eager for an exhilarating display of hockey action!