Nathan MacKinnon Reacts to Canada's Gold-Medal Loss to USA, 'You Be The Judge of Who Was Better'

The United States won the men's hockey gold medal on Sunday morning with a dramatic 2-1 overtime win against Canada.

But Nathan MacKinnon isn't so sure the better team won.

"You be the judge of who was the better team today," he told reporters after the loss.

Perhaps MacKinnon was lamenting his miss on a wide open net.

Or the several golden chances that Canada created, only to be bested by American goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

Statistically Canada looked like the better side. The outshot the United States 42-28. They held a 3-2 advantage in power plays. The star power from Team Canada was undeniable.

But Hellebuyck was brilliant, and the United States did something Canada didn't—they took their chances. When given the opportunity to bury the game in overtime and clinch the gold medal, Jack Hughes took it.

"Unbelievable game by Hellebuyck. He was our best player by a mile," Hughes said on the NBC broadcast after the victory. "The USA Hockey brotherhood means so much. We are such a team. The brotherhood is so strong."

It was a clean sweep for the United States in hockey, as the American women also beat Canada in overtime to secure the gold medal.

"We did it for the people back home, for all the love and support we got," Hughes said. "You dream of this. A lot of talk for us was breaking the drought. And we thought this was the group that could do it. We are gold medalists. We are the champions. Tonight, we are the best in the world."

Even if MacKinnon might feel otherwise.