Sidney Crosby proves - once again - why he is Canada's greatest winner and one of the greatest to ever lace up the skates

When the 4 Nations Face-off kicked off on Wednesday between Team Canada and Team Sweden, the ice at Bell Centre in Montreal was full of superstars - some in their prime, some part of the next generation of hockey's best.

Then, there was 37-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins and NHL legend Sidney Crosby. 

And he stole the show.

'Captain Canada's' three assists - all of them remarkable plays - led his team to a 4-3 overtime victory over Sweden. His final assist of the night came in the form of a perfect drop-pass in the neutral zone to Mitch Marner, who rushed into the attacking zone and zipped a shot past Swedish goaltender Philip Gustavsson.

Just before the overtime goal, chants of "Crosby! Crosby!" rang out when the captain touched the ice for just the second time in the overtime period. Those same chants echoed throughout Bell Centre after Marner's goal when the game's Three Stars were being announced.

Prior to the First Star being revealed, the chants got really loud. And the people of Canada got exactly what they wanted, as Crosby was named Player of the Game, and the chants continued to take over the arena.

All in all, Crosby was the best player on the ice. And it was an incredible moment for a guy who many seem to leave behind nowadays in discussions about the best players in the world. 

As good as Crosby is normally, he's a different animal when he dons the Canadian maple leaf on his chest. And this tournament - and the chance to play for his country in front of its home fans again - means a lot to him.

"It was special," Crosby told Sportsnet after the game. "I mean, the atmosphere - I've played in this building many times in the playoffs, but - tonight was pretty cool. Just an unbelievable game and unbelievable skill and talent out there. It was some great hockey.

"Just grateful to be in this position to play in these big games with this group and in front of this crowd. It's a special place, and to get an ovation like that... you dream of playing in games like this, so it was really special. I appreciate it."

Marner also appreciated the efforts of his captain, who is someone he looked up to as a kid. And receiving a pass from an all-time great and hockey idol to set up your overtime winner for Team Canada? 

Not bad.

"Ever since day one, like I've spoken about all week, was 87," Marner said. "It's all I wore growing up. It's all I cheered for. Yeah, it's a really cool, surreal, 'pinch me' moment, for sure. Something I'll always be grateful for."

He added: “You tell eight- or 10-year-old Mitch that he's scoring an overtime goal assisted by Sidney Crosby, a guy he’s looked up to since Day One? It's pretty crazy.”

The game got off to a fast start for Canada, as they were awarded a power play just 44 seconds into the game after Swedish forward William Nylander high-sticked Nathan MacKinnon. And - just 12 seconds later - MacKinnon finished a gorgeous, no-look backhand feed from Crosby across the goal crease. 

Canada went up 2-0 on an ill-advised pinch from Swedish defenseman - and captain - Victor Hedman that resulted on a two-on-one. Brayden Point fed Brad Marchand a perfect pass, and Gustavsson had no chance. 

But following a disappointing first frame, Sweden pushed back. Midway through the second period, Penguins forward Rickard Rakell was in on the forecheck down low and got the puck to Lucas Raymond, who made a nice play along the wall to get the puck to Hedman at the point. Hedman fed Jonas Brodin, who shot the puck past Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington on a screen from Rakell.

With Sweden down by one and carrying all of the momentum in the second period, Crosby came up big again near the end of the second. He skated the puck up-ice on the right side, fending off Sweden's Gustav Forsling with a spin move and feeding the puck through two Swedish sticks and directly to Mark Stone's stick.

Crosby's unrivaled ability to protect the puck and maintain possession with his edgework was on full display on this assist, which was a huge goal for Canada to put them up, 3-1, during a period in which they were largely outplayed.

Unfortunately for Canada, that lead didn't last long. Just a minute and 54 seconds into the third period, another Penguin and Swede in Erik Karlsson made a nice defensive play to win a race to the puck in the defensive zone, and he and defense partner Mattias Ekholm led the charge the other way. 

After a dish from Ekholm, Karlsson made a great play in the neutral zone to feed Adrian Kempe, who capitalized on a shot from the slot in the offensive zone to make it 3-2. 

And Sweden wasn't done. Approaching the midway point of the third, Joel Eriksson-Ek finished a beautiful passing play that came as a result of him winning the faceoff in the first place. 

At that point, it was tied, 3-3, as Sweden had come all the way back. Both teams exchanged chances through the rest of the third and into the overtime period before Crosby's and Marner's heroics still preserved two of three possible points for Canada.

If this game is a precursor for the rest of them, fans should be excited to see more best-on-best competition at 4 Nations. Team USA will take on Team Finland Thursday before a doubleheader featuring all four teams on Saturday. There will be plenty of players and storylines to keep an eye on.

But Wednesday was a great evening for hockey fans. The game's entertainment value was sky-high. And, above all- at the end of the day - the tournament's oldest player in Crosby turned back the clock and became its brightest star, reminding everyone why he's one of the greatest to ever do it.

"He calms things down, he has that presence, and he's still playing at a crazy high level at his age," Stone told TNT. "He's been doing this for, what, 20 years?

"I don't see him slowing down any time soon."