Team North America has become one the biggest revelations at the World Cup of Hockey.

Captain Connor McDavid showed exactly why that is when he set up Auston Matthews for a brilliant first goal against the seasoned Russians on Monday.

McDavid easily skated past Pavel Datsyuk, one the best defensive forwards in recent memory, to seamlessly connect with Matthews in front of the net. With that speed and talent on the group's top line, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky didn't have a chance.

The goal is sure to be the first of many at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto for 19-year-old Matthews, who was picked first overall in June's NHL draft. Maple Leafs fans are excited, to say the least.

"It's always exciting to score, contribute. It was definitely a pretty good feeling," said Matthews. "But in the end we didn't get the win which is the most important thing."

The 23-and-under team was unable overcome a three-goal deficit despite shelling Bobrovsky with 46 shots and Russia eventually won a wild one, 4-3.