{"id":16622,"date":"2025-02-15T20:58:18","date_gmt":"2025-02-15T20:58:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/15\/canadas-makar-a-game-time-decision-binnington-to-start-versus-u-s-at-4-nations\/"},"modified":"2025-02-15T20:58:18","modified_gmt":"2025-02-15T20:58:18","slug":"canadas-makar-a-game-time-decision-binnington-to-start-versus-u-s-at-4-nations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/15\/canadas-makar-a-game-time-decision-binnington-to-start-versus-u-s-at-4-nations\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada\u2019s Makar a game-time decision, Binnington to start versus U.S. at 4 Nations"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Cale Makar will do everything he can to step on the ice for Canada on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

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But head coach Jon Cooper isn\u2019t ready to confirm his top defenceman will be available for the highly anticipated 4 Nations Face-Off <\/a>matchup against the United States.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019ll be a game-time decision,\u201d Cooper said Saturday morning \u2014 \u201cbut trust me, this won\u2019t be a situation (where) we ever put Cale Makar in harm\u2019s way \u2014 so if he\u2019s in the lineup, he\u2019ll be good to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cooper said goalie Jordan Binnington will start for the second consecutive game.<\/p>\n

Makar \u2014 an all-situations blueliner who quarterbacks Canada\u2019s loaded top power-play unit \u2014 participated in Canada\u2019s morning skate after missing practice Friday with an illness.<\/p>\n

The former Norris Trophy winner said the last couple of days have featured \u201ca lot of ups and downs\u201d with his status uncertain.<\/p>\n

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\u201cJust trying to manage things, trying to put myself in the best spot I can to play tonight,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll see how this afternoon goes. Feel better today, just kind of go from there and hopefully, obviously, do everything I can to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tJordan Binnington, seen here in Canada\u2019s opening game against Sweden, will make his second straight start Saturday as Canada takes on their arch-rivals, the Americans at the Bell Centre in Montreal.\t\t\t\t<\/span>
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\n\t\t\t\t\tTHE CANADIAN PRESS\/Christinne Muschi\t\t\t\t<\/cite>
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Canada opened the tournament with a nail-biting 4-3 overtime win Wednesday against Sweden. The U.S., meanwhile, bulldozed their way to a 6-1 win over Finland on Thursday.<\/p>\n

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Bitter rivals Sweden and Finland were to meet Saturday afternoon at Montreal\u2019s Bell Centre.<\/p>\n

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The 4 Nations shifts to Boston for a pair of round-robin games Monday before next Thursday\u2019s final.<\/p>\n

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Makar leads all NHL defencemen with 63 points (22 goals, 41 assists) in 57 games for the Colorado Avalanche this season.<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old from Calgary also led Canada with a 28:06 ice-time in its opener against Sweden.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was pretty sick last game too, and he didn\u2019t look it,\u201d said Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon, who also plays for the Avalanche. \u201cHe\u2019s so mentally tough that nothing phases that guy. He\u2019s the best defenceman in the world, so him at 80 (per cent) is better than almost everybody anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m not gonna sit here and say if he\u2019s 80 per cent we\u2019re gonna put him in,\u201d added Cooper.<\/p>\n

Canada dropped to six healthy defencemen when Shea Theodore exited against Sweden with an upper-body injury.<\/p>\n

Travis Sanheim will take his place in the lineup while Thomas Harley, a non-roster player who\u2019s on standby, would enter if Makar is ruled out.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tMontreal\u2019s Bell Centre, seen here during Canada\u2019s opening game against Sweden, will be the scene of Saturday\u2019s game between arch-rivals, the Canadian and American men\u2019s hockey teams.\t\t\t\t<\/span>
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\n\t\t\t\t\tTHE CANADIAN PRESS\/Christinne Muschi\t\t\t\t<\/cite>
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Harley skated on Saturday morning at CN Sports Complex after Makar left the ice, earning a loud applause from Canada\u2019s squad before leading a stretch at centre ice.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf there\u2019s any question of what this tournament means to guys, I think that\u2019s the biggest example right there,\u201d forward Connor McDavid said. \u201cHarley being a few hours away from being in Cabo to being here and being part of the group, and maybe not even getting an opportunity. I think it shows what it means to be a part of this tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

On offence, gritty forward Sam Bennett is replacing Travis Konecny after being a healthy scratch Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Goaltending was a concern for Canada leading up to the tournament, considered the star-studded team\u2019s biggest weakness. Cooper ultimately stuck with Binnington after choosing not to reveal Canada\u2019s starter after practice Friday.<\/p>\n

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