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This is why they opened the doors again to allow NHL players to compete in the men's hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics.
A brilliant day of hockey like the sports world got to enjoy on Wednesday would only be possible with the planet's best all sharing the same ice in Milan.
The day began with a simplicity that didn't foreshadow what was still to come, but it was magic anyway -- Slovakia remains the upstart of the tournament and handled Germany, and Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, comfortably.
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Then it was the day of overtime.
First, Team Canada was on major upset alert. A blazing slapshot goal on the powerplay from Bruins superstar David Pastrnak, and then a go-ahead goal by the well-traveled Ondrej Palat, had Canada's backs against the wall against Czechia.
That's when Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki was the savior to tie it, and then Maple Leaf-turned-Golden Knight Mitch Marner was the hero with the overtime winner.
Finland went to overtime with Switzerland shortly after, and the Avalanche's Artturi Lehkonen set off the Finnish party with the walk-off goal.
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And then there was Team USA and Sweden. For most of the game, the Jets' Connor Hellebuyck stood on his head to keep a 1-0 lead (Red Wings' Dylan Larkin goal) intact.
Sweden equalized in the final minutes, though, and so the United States needed another headline-grabber to advance.
In stepped Quinn Hughes, one of the best defensemen in the world, the Canucks star traded this season to the Wild. It was his time to seize the moment, and his game-winning goal capped an astounding day of Olympic hockey.
The drama can still be great without NHL players. But the level of play, combined with Olympic drama? It simply doesn't get better than this.
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