Team Canada must quickly fix this major flaw

Canada controlled long stretches of the game and directed heavy traffic toward Connor Hellebuyck. The American goaltender delivered a spectacular performance and shut the door when it mattered most.

It is easy to blame a hot goalie after a tight loss. However, the bigger issue may lie in roster construction and offensive depth.

The Olympic tournament is very different from the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off. There is no tolerance for fighting, and the international game emphasizes structure, discipline and clinical finishing.

Despite that reality, Canada iced Tom Wilson, Sam Bennett and Brandon Hagel. Those players bring intensity and experience, but the Olympic format rewards pure goal scorers above all else.

Beyond the elite trio of Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Macklin Celebrini, Canada did not feature another player currently ranked among the NHL’s top 17 goal scorers. That absence became glaring in a one-goal final.

Meanwhile, Morgan Geekie sits seventh in NHL scoring with 32 goals. Wyatt Johnston ranks 12th with 29, Steven Stamkos 16th with 28, and Mark Scheifele 17th with 27.

When Canada failed to convert several prime chances, especially in overtime, the debate naturally intensified. Would Geekie or Johnston have offered the finishing touch that was missing?

This is not about discrediting Wilson or Bennett. Both players are effective in the NHL and valuable in specific roles.

However, Olympic hockey leaves little margin for grinding shifts or emotional momentum swings. It rewards execution in tight spaces and players who can bury one chance out of two.

Canada dominated possession and generated pressure, but international tournaments punish inefficiency. You may only get one clean look in overtime, and that shot must find the back of the net.

The contrast with the 4 Nations Face-Off is significant. That event allows a more physical edge, even fights, creating energy swings that can change a game’s rhythm.

At the Olympics, discipline and scoring touch are king. Teams that stack elite finishers often thrive under those constraints.

It is always easier to question decisions after a silver medal. Still, management must evaluate whether the roster truly reflected the demands of Olympic hockey.

The difference between gold and silver Sunday was razor thin. One additional high-end scorer could have rewritten the ending.

If Team Canada wants redemption, the lesson seems clear. Prioritize finishing talent, because at the Olympics, one goal changes everything.