Video Captures Jon Cooper Sending a Message to McDavid and Marner Ahead of OT Game-Winning Goal

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Daniel Lucente
February 21, 2025 (2:54 PM)

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Just seconds before Connor McDavid scored the tournament-winning goal, coach Jon Cooper was seen telling his players to be selfish and shoot the puck more.

Canada won the 4 Nations Face-Off, taking a 3-2 overtime thriller. The winner was scored by Connor McDavid, as he deposited a perfect pass from Mitch Marner on a clutch set-up in overtime.

Marner's tournament was a bit of a rollercoaster, as he began it on a high with an OT winner over Sweden but had his role diminished to the second, then third line, from there.

Jon Cooper reunited Marner with McDavid for the final game

In spite of the changes, head coach Jon Cooper reunited him with McDavid and Mark Stone for the last game, and it was a split-second decision that rewarded them in spectacular fashion.

One of the watershed moments that was captured on camera was Cooper telling McDavid and Marner to be selfish and shoot the puck. That was sound advice, as the two stars took over, culminating in McDavid's winner.

Jon Cooper: "Somebody be selfish and shoot it in the net."

Following the victory over Boston, Cooper discussed his lineup choice, crediting Marner with deserved praise for his playoff-style play and toughness.

"When you come to these short tournaments, you are trying to put players in positions to succeed.

The first move - Brayden Point has been a center all of his life, and I thought putting Point with McDavid was going to help the speed factor. It was just about if Point was going to be comfortable playing the wing, and he sure was. He proved that.

With Stone there, I thought the line had great chemistry, but ultimately, in the end, as the game went on, Mitch had legs. That kid can make plays. As we saw tonight, he just needed one chance to make a play, and he did.

It comes down to a gut feeling on how the guys are going. I felt those three guys could do it, and they did."

- Jon Cooper

The scene now shifts back to the NHL, as the regular season schedule begins for many teams tomorrow, with the final push to the playoffs in just under two months from now.

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