Canada's core, led by Sidney Crosby, continues world hockey domination

The World Cup of Hockey lacked in interest and intensity in its return over the past two weeks, but Patrice Bergeron and his Boston Bruins teammate Brad Marchand certainly provided a dramatic ending for Canada to claim yet another best-on-best championship.

After Team Europe forced the Canadians to stumble and bumble their way through the opening 57 minutes of the second game of the best-of-three final, Bergeron deflected home a Brent Burns shot on the power play with 2:53 remaining in the third period to tie the game.

Then, while killing a late-game penalty, Jonathan Toews employed Canadian defenceman Jay Bouwmeester as a decoy to feed a trailing Marchand for the shorthanded game winner with 43.1 ticks left on the clock.

Team Europe deserved a better fate than a 2-1 loss after a 3-1 defeat in the opener because of its ability to frustrate Canada and create several golden scoring chances.

But Canadian goalie Carey Price was magnificent and proved time and time again at the Air Canada Centre on Thursday the knee ailment that kept him out of action since last Nov. 25 is in the past.

After he made several important stops, he was sharp again during Team Europe's late-game power play, stopping Marian Hossa from in close, seconds after defenceman Roman Josi clanked a shot off the post.

The victory extended Canada's win streak in best-on-best hockey to 16 games, dating back to its loss against the United States in the final game of the group stage at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Crosby, Toews and Bergeron are common denominators in the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Games as well as the World Cup.

"In the biggest moments, they're better," Canadian coach Mike Babcock said. "They can't help themselves, they're addicted to winning."

For Price, he has won 16 games in a row performing in a Canadian sweater (6-0 at 2007 world junior championship, 5-0 at the Sochi Olympics and 5-0 at this event).

Crosby reaching new heights

Sidney Crosby has won 25 straight games in a Canadian sweater because he went 9-0 at the 2015 IIHF World Championship.

Crosby was the easy choice for tournament MVP. What an incredible 31-month ride for Sid the Kid. He won 2014 Olympic gold in Sochi, the 2015 worlds, a Stanley Cup with his Pittsburgh Penguins last spring and now a World Cup of Hockey championship.

"It's special," said Crosby, who joins Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky as the only players to win the Conn Smythe, Hart Trophy and Canada Cup/World Cup MVP. "I think I don't have to look too far back to think about how tough it was a year ago starting out the season. I think I appreciate this a lot. It's not easy.

"Everyone wants to be playing for Team Canada. There's a lot of expectations. We play here, we understand that.  But it's an unbelievable atmosphere to play here at home, to be a hockey player playing for Team Canada and be with this group of guys has been a lot of fun."

Tournament needs time

The World Cup does not carry the same stature after its lengthy 12-year hiatus.

It was evident from the past two weeks that this event needs time to be built up again.

Canadians used to be in love with international hockey in September, whether the famed 1972 Summit Series, Bobby Orr's swan song at the 1976 Canada Cup and Mario Lemieux dramatic game-winner in 1987.

This was only the third World Cup in 20 years. In the meantime, the NHL and its players began participating in the Olympics in 1998 and the Winter Games have grown in importance.

There is room for both the Olympics and the World Cup to exist, if the latter is contested every four years, too. The sporting fans in this country may not feel this way right now, especially those who were drawn more to the Toronto Blue Jays push for the playoffs rather tune in to the World Cup.

Many corporations also refused to buy in as evident by the number of luxury suites that remained empty at the Air Canada Centre. But the players have different feelings.

"I'm not going to try to convince anybody," Crosby said. "Everyone has got their own opinion. But speaking just on my experience, to represent your country, to be a hockey player and play the best of the best is pretty special and not an opportunity you get all the time."