Nathan MacKinnon Trolled After Suggesting Canada Was The “Better Team” Following Loss Against USA in 2026 Olympics

Nathan MacKinnon missed an open goal chance in the third period as he sent his shot wide of the target while the game was tied at 1-1.

Nathan MacKinnon Trolled After Suggesting Canada Was The “Better Team” Following Loss Against USA in 2026 Olympics

Nathan MacKinnon (Image via X/@TSNHockey)

Nathan MacKinnon and Team Canada suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss against Team USA in the gold medal match. After the loss, the Colorado Avalanche star made some bold comments and implied that his country was the “better team.“

This match was the first meeting between the two countries since the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship game in February last year. In that game, Canada came out as 3-2 winners following an overtime winner through Connor McDavid.

It was the Americans who struck first on Sunday. A sublime solo effort from Matt Boldy gave them the lead in the first period. MacKinnon’s Avalanche teammate, Cale Makar put the Canadians on level terms following a snipe shot in the second period.

In the third period, MacKinnon would miss a golden chance to put his side 2-1 up. After youngster Macklin Celebrini found him with a pass, the 30-year-old would end up shooting the puck outside the net while USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was left stranded.

This missed chance would later come back to haunt him. Jack Hughes would step up in the 3-on-3 overtime period and score the golden goal to snatch a 2-1 win for the Americans.

Hughes’ goal marked the USA’s first Olympic gold medal in men’s ice hockey since 1980. They had previously lost against the Canadians in the 2002 and 2010 games.

As they celebrated the win, MacKinnon and his team were left devastated. While speaking with the reporters, he would drop a bold comment implying that Canada was the “better team” and that the better team ended up losing.

You be the judge of who was the better team today.

Nathan MacKinnon told the reporters

Speaking of the stats, Canada had 42 shots on goal, 14 more compared to USA’s 28 shots. They however, were unable to beat Hellebuyck twice in the game.

The Winnipeg Jets’ goaltender made 41 saves in the game. One of them included an incredible stop to deny Devon Toews from a very close range. It was the Americans who were slightly more clinical than them in front of the goal.

With this win, America clinched a historic double over Canada. On Thursday, the women’s team had defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime as well. Megan Keller‘s golden goal sealed a third Olympic gold medal for the women’s team as well.

Social media takes swipe at Nathan MacKinnon following his comments

Nathan MacKinnon will have a hard time forgetting his miss in the gold medal game against the United States. After his “better team” comments, he found himself getting trolled on social media.

Nathan MacKinnon
Nathan MacKinnon (Image via X/@NHL)

Fans on X would take a swipe at him. Many would bring up his miss and troll him for losing the game, and slam him for his words in the post-game conference.

Had MacKinnon buried his chance, Canada would have gone 2-1 up with 10 minutes remaining. Things could have gone differently for his team after that. This defeat will be a tough one to swallow for him and his country.

Sidney Crosby defends Nathan MacKinnon following Team Canada’s 2-1 loss

Nathan MacKinnon and Team Canada had to settle for the silver medal on Sunday as they ended up losing in overtime against Team USA. After the game, Canada’s captain, Sidney Crosby, defended the forward amid criticism.

Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby
Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby (Image via X/@BR_OpenIce)

Crosby, who scored the golden goal against the United States in 2010, was not a part of the final. Following his injury in the quarter-final against Czechia, he would sit out of this game.

While speaking to the media after the loss, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain expressed that he and all others understood his feelings.

We all feel that way. Being close to him, knowing what he puts into it, what it means to him…It means so much to everybody in that room…It’s not about that one play. We had so many opportunities, we did so many good things.

Sidney Crosby said in defense of Nathan MacKinnon

The attention will now turn to the NHL action. The regular season will resume on February 25 with 8 games scheduled to take place on that day. Until then, the Americans will party hard and celebrate their double gold medal victory over Canada in ice hockey.

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