Nathan MacKinnon does not believe Team Canada got what it deserved.
Team USA pulled a 2-1 overtime victory Sunday in Milan for its first Olympic gold medal in men’s ice hockey since 1980, despite Canada carrying much of the play and outshooting the Americans by a 42-28 margin, including 19-8 in the second period.
“You be the judge of who was the better team today,” MacKinnon said after the game, according to the Canadian Press.
American goalie Connor Hellebuyck made 41 saves, including several acrobatic stops, in the final game. Canada failed to convert on a 5-on-3 power play, and MacKinnon also misfired with an open net to shoot at in the third period.
“Just finishing. That’s it,” MacKinnon added when asked what more Canada could have done. “The looks we had, we would’ve taken any day. I missed an open net myself, and I really wish I could have that one back.
“We definitely really tilted that game, but we just – I don’t know, we had to score, and we didn’t score.”
The Avalanche star ranks second in the NHL in scoring this season behind Canadian teammate Connor McDavid of the Oilers.