Canada vs. Europe: World Cup of Hockey Finals 2016 Game 2 Score, Reaction

With 43.1 seconds left in regulation, Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand wristed home a short-handed goal to lift Team Canada to the World Cup of Hockey title in a wild 2-1 Game 2 finish over Team Europe on Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. 

It was Canada's second World Cup of Hockey crown in just the tournament's third installment, but the final series look destined to go to a decisive Game 3. 

Europe held Canada off the board for the first 57 minutes, seven seconds thanks to the heroics of New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak, who stopped 32 of 34 shots and absorbed a ton of Canadian pressure in the third period.

With the Canadians down 1-0, Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron deflected San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns' shot past Halak with 2:53 remaining to tie the game, as Sportsnet tweeted:

Canada's comeback floored NHL.com's Brian Compton:

Canada had a stud goaltender as well, as Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price turned away 32 of 33 shots.

Despite a lackluster Game 1 performance, Canada pulled out a 3-1 victory against a European team that was looking for offensive contributions outside of Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar, who scored the team's last three goals in the tournament entering Game 2 of the best-of-three series. 

The offensive boost came in the form of a defenseman when Zdeno Chara pinched, took a pass from fellow blueliner Andrej Sekera and snapped a high wrist shot past Price, as the NHL showed: 

It gave the Europeans their first lead of the finals just 6:26 into Game 2.

Chara's shot earned high praise from ESPN.com's John Buccigross:

Chara's snipe also impressed Sports Illustrated's Peter Roumeliotis:

Yahoo Canada's Hilary Hagerman wasn't as inspired:

With Canada unable to respond within 1:30 of Chara's opener, it was the longest span of time that the hosts had trailed at the World Cup of Hockey.

Canada couldn't find the equalizer for some time, much to the surprise of the Daily Hive's Rob Williams:

Starting the second period on the power play, Canada looked destined to tie the game 2:30 in, when New York Islanders captain John Tavares found himself with the puck to the right of a wide-open goal. But he rang his shot off the post, as Sportsnet showed:

Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun couldn't believe it:

TheScore's David Alter resorted to a higher power when trying to explain how Tavares missed:

Canada managed to find its bearings and buzz for most of the second period, but Halak and Europe's defense remained stout, forcing NHL.com's Dan Rosen to give due credit:

Into the third period Game 2 went, and Canada went on the power play when Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi was called for a delay of game. But the Canadians couldn't muster a dangerous chance as frustration mounted.

CBC's Monika Platek was searching for answers:

But players and viewers alike had to look no further than Halak, who continued his stellar tournament and showed why having a hot goaltender in an elimination game is invaluable. 

As the clock wound down, Europe kept its shifts short and didn't dwell on the puck. As soon as a player took over possession, he quickly cleared it out of the team's defensive zone. It stymied Canada's attack and eliminated any kind of consistent pressure.

But with 3:35 left, Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar was sent to the penalty box for holding, giving the hosts one more golden opportunity, setting up the equalizer.

Josh McConnell of the Financial Post couldn't believe it:

It prompted NESN's Dale Arnold to make a bold statement:

Canadian celebrations were muted, though, when Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was called for a high stick with 1:50 left in the game. 

Josi hit the post for Europe, while Price stoned Chicago Blackhawks veteran Marian Hossa from up close with 1:09 left before Marchand ended the series 26 seconds later. 

Canada has won its last 16 games at major tournaments, securing gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia; the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia; and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.

Postgame Reaction

For Marchand, his game-winner was a benchmark event in his career, as Williams relayed:

However, it has ended a hectic schedule before the NHL regular season starts, as Marchand stated, per Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News:

Even Canada's captain, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, admitted the ending of Game 2 was insane, per Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail:

Still, it gives the team and the country and opportunity to party, according to Marchand, per Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe:

But Canada head coach Mike Babcock, who also coaches the Toronto Maple Leafs, didn't wait too long to look ahead to the NHL season, per Harrington:

While they will be rivals in a few short weeks, like many of the players and coaches participating in the World Cup of Hockey, Canadians can rest easy knowing that they still have the greatest hockey team on the planet.