Canada defeated Sweden 4-3 in overtime to open the 4 Nations Face-Off at the Bell Centre.
Sidney Crosby recorded three assists, while Mitch Marner scored the game-winning goal. It marked Crosby’s seventh multi-point performance in Team Canada competition.
“(Crosby) will go down as the greatest player to ever wear the Canadian jersey,” national team coach Jon Cooper said.
Crosby’s playmaking began 56 seconds into the game with a behind-the-back pass to Nathan MacKinnon for a power-play goal. He then set up Mark Stone in the second period and assisted on Marner’s overtime winner.
“Insane,” Marner said of Crosby’s performance. “It’s crazy, just watching him, being on his team, just seeing the work ethic, everything he does. Its insane, that Stone goal, what he did on that play was insane. That’s why he’s a top player in the world.”
Marner added: “You tell 10-year-old Mitch that he scored an overtime goal assisted by Sidney Crosby, the guy he’s looked up to since Day 1, yeah, it’s pretty crazy. I’m sure my family’s going to be very excited about that one.”
The Bell Centre crowd chanted Crosby’s name after he was named first star.
Canada dominated the opening period, outshooting Sweden 7-3 and generating all six high-danger scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Brad Marchand made it 2-0, energizing the Montreal crowd that typically boos the Boston Bruins forward.
Sweden mounted a comeback in the final two periods. Jonas Brodin, Adrian Kempe, and Joel Eriksson Ek scored to tie the game at 3-3 midway through the third.
Filip Gustavsson made 24 saves for Sweden, including a spectacular stop on Devon Toews to force overtime. Jordan Binnington stopped 23 shots for Canada.
Team Canada has now won 26 consecutive international games with Crosby in the lineup, dating back to February 21, 2010.
The victory came with a cost as defenseman Shea Theodore left in the second period with a wrist injury, forcing Canada to play with five defensemen.
Canada faces the United States on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
