MONTREAL – Sam Bennett has known Conor McDavid since he was a young child, and played minor hockey as a linemate before the age of 10.
He was on the other side of McDavid in last year's Stanley Cup final. The Oilers returned from a 3-0 deficit and forced Game 7, while McDavid still managed to win Conte Smystrophy after the Panthers took the series.
So when Bennett talks about what Saturday's US-Canadian matchup means to McDavid, who hasn't played yet on the best on the best version of this rivalry, he takes him seriously.
“You can see how badly he wants to win,” Bennett said after Canada practiced Friday. “He came to the locker room after the other day's victory. [against Sweden]he was jacked. He was probably the most jacked by everyone. It just shows how badly he loves to win. That's definitely a stunning feature he has. ”
This is where legends are written.
McDavid is to watch some food stalls in the Canadian locker room to remind him to score the most famous goals of his decorated career at the 2010 Olympic Finals to win Team USA.
McDavid was playing for the Toronto Marlies at the time, but is young enough to become a teammate with Bennett in the Toronto Hockey League.
The team watched it together.
“I remember seeing that goal coming in was very exciting,” McDavid said. “All Canadians were excited.”
The two hockey heavyweight games on Saturday don't have the same stakes as the Olympic Finals.
After both teams win the opening match in the 4 Nations showdown, the winners all ensure a spot in the final, but it's entirely possible that there will be a trophy between these two teams and there will be a trophy is. I'll be in Boston next Thursday.
Still, it was the first best-on match between Canada and the US in over eight years, and “Star Spangled Banner” has received a boo north of the border amid growing tensions between the two countries .
“I think my feelings about this game are very similar to the way I felt before Game 7.
For a decisive player of his generation, this could be a decisive game.
“It's big. It's exciting,” McDavid said. “The Best On Best Tournament to play an American in Montreal. That's what you dream of.”
