The referee pointed to center ice at 17:16.
Canada coach Jon Cooper could have picked anyone to take the penalty shot under the tournament rules.
Celebrini has never attempted a penalty shot in the NHL and is 2-for-9 in the shootout since entering the NHL last season. He’s fourth in the League this season with 81 points (28 goals, 53 assists) in 55 games but has been third on his own line at times for Team Canada.
McDavid leads the NHL with 96 points (34 goals, 62 assists) in 58 games for the Edmonton Oilers this season. MacKinnon ranks second with 93 points (40 goals, 53 assists) in 55 games for the Colorado Avalanche.
Celebrini circled in the Canada zone as the puck sat at center ice.
“Basically, 18 guys turned around to look at me and were like, ‘Oh, what are you going to do now, Coach?’ as I see Celebrini doing the circle,” Cooper said. “ … I would have been booed out of the building if I didn’t let him shoot.”
Celebrini collected the puck at center ice. He went right, then cut to the middle. A left-handed shot, he faked a backhand, switched to his forehand and flipped the puck past the blocker of goalie Julian Junca, making it look easy.
Canada led 5-1.
“I had a chance there, and I was just happy that I got to redo it,” Celebrini said. “I don’t know. I wasn’t really thinking much. … I’ve been working on that move a little bit in practice, and thankfully it worked.”
