Instant Classic: 5 best moments from Canada-USA gold medal game

No matter what side you were cheering for, or how you feel about shootouts, the United States’ 5-4 win over Canada in Thursday’s gold medal game will go down as one of the most entertaining world junior games of all time.

Here are the top five defining moments from yet another epic Canada-U.S. gold medal clash:

Troy Terry, American Hero

Step aside Jonathan Toews, Troy Terry is the new shootout king.

After scoring three five-hole goals in the shootout to send the U.S. past Russia and into the gold medal game, Terry saved one more bullet for the final, firing a shot between Carter Hart’s pads for the only goal by either team.

Tyler Parsons was perfect at the other end, stopping all five shots.

Dubois misses golden opportunity

With the game knotted at four late in the third period, Pierre-Luc Dubois had a chance to become the latest Canadian hockey hero.

Dubois, however, was left shaking his head after failing to convert a pass from Mathew Barzal into the wide open net.

Parsons saves the day

Before shutting the door in the shootout, Parsons came up huge on a number of occasions for the U.S. — none bigger than the sprawling save he made in overtime.

With his team down a man and the Canadians applying heavy pressure, Parsons somehow found the puck through a crowd and kicked out his pad to deny Julien Gauthier the winning goal.

Hart pulls a Parsons

Not long after Parsons robbed Canada of gold, Carter Hart returned the favour.

The Canadian netminder denied Luke Kunin in close then punched the rebound away from Jeremy Bracco to keep the overtime fun rolling.

Joseph’s timely return

Mathieu Joseph limped off the ice early in the third period after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Kieffer Bellows, who was given a tripping minor.

Canada went up 3-2 on the ensuing man advantage, but Joseph’s big moment came minutes later when he returned to the ice, turned on the jets and deked out Parsons to put Canada up 4-2.