Opinion: Canada’s revenge quest offers opportunity for MacKinnon and Makar

Someone will leave this tournament a legend. A moment built for Makar and MacKinnon.

For the last decade, the lore of international hockey has rightfully been about Sidney Crosby and his golden goal in 2010. Since then, not much has happened globally or in best-on-best hockey—that is, until now. That means someone will realize another monumental happening inside this Four Nations Face-Off, and my money is on either Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, or both.

Nate the Great

I don’t have to explain to you my inherent bias toward Nathan MacKinnon. My bias, however, doesn’t eliminate me from having a qualified take here. Nathan MacKinnon is one of the best forwards in the world, if not the best. That’s not according to just me, but his peers and media pundits that anointed him the NHL’s MVP last season. He’s also on the hunt for an MVP this season and leads the league in points and assists as he represents his beloved country alongside his childhood hero, Sid, who is not a kid anymore.

Is there ever a better scene for Nate Dawg to strut his stuff? This guy is called ‘the dawg’ here in the Rocky Mountains because rarely is a moment too big or light too bright for Nathan MacKinnon. He rises to the occasion and thrives in the limelight. It’s a part of why he’s a future HOFer. In the spirit of the Mile High Hockey Lab, I will make a bold prediction and say that MacKinnon scores the game-winner against Finland and a game-winner against Team USA in Boston this coming Thursday.

Cale Makorr

Like his fellow countryman, Cale Makar has dreamed about playing for Team Canada alongside his heroes and colleagues. Cale is the NHL’s most valuable defender; any team would take number 8. He mentioned that missing the first installment of USA vs. Canada at this 4 Nations Face-Off was one of the most challenging decisions of his life. I bet.

Makar, like his Avalanche teammate Nate, possesses that big-game brilliance. Who can forget his first NHL action and subsequent playoff goal against his childhood team, the Calgary Flames? You don’t win a Conn Smyth by shying away in the big moments, and Cale certainly doesn’t. Cale Makar will tie things up via a power-play goal when Team Canada exacts their revenge on Team USA. He will also tee up MacKinnon’s game-winner, which I previously predicted.

The Stage is Set

If this article reads like fan fiction, I’m sorry. Still, in Hilary Duff’s words, this is what dreams are made of, and if past performance is our best indicator of future outcomes, this is Nate and Cale’s ideal setting for a signature performance. Leaving a lasting imprint on this tournament will go far toward earning them season-long honors, but more importantly, doing so will cement these two generational talents in the legacy of the world’s best game forever more.