MONTREAL — It was The Hit Heard ’Round 4 Nations.
And when Charlie McAvoy blasted Connor McDavid on an entry along the left wing boards at 9:49 of the first period, the USA defenseman’s check reverberated all the way to Bunker Hill, which is less than one mile away from TD Garden, where this tournament will pick up on Monday night.
The Americans were trailing 1-0 at the time, after McDavid, disguised as a speeding bullet, split the McAvoy-Brad Werenski pair and rifled one past Connor Hellebuyck at 5:31 to turn the Bell cauldron — that had drowned out “The Star-Spangled Banner” with thunderous boos — into unrestrained ecstasy.
But that was the best and last moment for Canada. For 26 seconds after McAvoy put McDavid on the seat of his pants, Jake Guentzel slipped one past Jordan Binnington to knot the game and elevate Team USA.
