Connor McDavid drops an Instagram flex, now Canada faces Team USA for Olympic gold

The Instagram photo is pure edge, red jersey, mouth open, bench energy spilling over. It is a message without extra words, and everyone watching knows who it is aimed at.

Canada is headed to the Olympic gold medal game on Sunday, and the opponent is Team USA. That rivalry does not need a hype man.

McDavid’s caption kept it simple. He's proud to rep Canada, excited for tomorrow.

Simple works when the stakes are this big.

On Friday, Canada looked cooked early against Finland, then ripped the script up. They scored three unanswered to win 3-2, with Nathan MacKinnon’s late power-play strike sealing it.

McDavid has been scoring all tournament. He enters the final leading in assists, and sitting on 11 points.

That is the scary part for the Americans, he can beat you without shooting first. He drags coverage, then slips the puck into the softest seam on the ice.

Canada also has the luxury of patience. When McDavid slows the pace, their top-six finds layers, and their blue line joins as a second wave.

If you are a Canadian fan, you feel that familiar stomach-tightening mix of confidence and dread, because you know one mistake can turn into a highlight against you.

Team USA earned this too, and they have been rolling. Their pressure forces quick clears, and their transition turns a harmless rim into a two-on-one.

So Canada’s game plan feels obvious, but it is brutal to execute. Win the middle, protect the slot, and let McDavid run the man advantage with speed and deception.

The best sign for Canada is how they answered Finland’s punch. They did not chase hits, they chased pucks.

Sunday is now about nerve, not talent. McDavid just reminded everyone he has plenty of both, and he wants the last word.