4 Nations Ice Chips: Tkachuk brothers flanking top line for USA
Published
USA
The top line in practice on Saturday for the United States featured brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk on the left and right wing, respectively, with Jack Eichel at centre.
The Tkachuk brothers were dominant in USA's tournament-opening 6-1 victory over Finland on Thursday, where they combined for four goals.
Team USA skated the following lines in practice:
B.Tkachuk - Eichel - M.Tkachuk
Guentzel - Matthews - Hughes
Miller - Larkin - Boldy
Nelson - Trocheck - Connor
Kreider
Werenski - McAvoy
Hanifin - Fox
Slavin - Faber
Sanderson
Hellebuyck
Oettinger
Swayman
USA is set to take on Canada in a highly-anticipated matchup on Saturday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal. It's the first battle at the senior level in international competition for the two nations since 2016.
"A hockey game that you love to be a part of, no matter what experience you've had in the past," said Sidney Crosby, the country's 37-year-old captain coming off Wednesday's three-assist performance in a 4-3 overtime victory against Sweden.
"Excited for the challenge."
Canada
Team Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington gets a second straight start as he will face the United States Saturday night at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Binnington got the start in the tournament opener on Wednesday against Sweden, stopping 23 of 26 shots in a 4-3 overtime victory.
The 31-year-old holds a 15-9-4 record through 39 games this season with a 2.89 goals-against average and .896 save percentage with the St. Louis Blues. He backstopped the Blues to the franchise's first-ever Stanley Cup title in 2019.
Makar GTD
Also Saturday Team Canada said defenceman Cale Makar (illness) is considered a game-time decision.
Makar was on the ice this morning, but missed Friday's practice.
Canada head coach Jon Cooper was confident on Friday that the team's top defenceman will play against the Americans.
Makar logged 28:16 minutes of ice time against Sweden.
With Makar potentially sidelined and defenceman Shea Theodore out for the rest of the tournament after suffering an injury on Wednesday, Canada brought in defenceman Thomas Harley for emergency purposes.
Per TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Harley is not permitted to join Team Canada in any activities unless Makar can't play.
Harley, 23, has nine goals and 29 points in 53 games this season with the Dallas Stars. The right-shot defenceman inked a two-year, $8 million contract after a breakout season with 15 goals and 47 points in 79 games last year.
Defenceman Travis Sanheim also draws into the lineup for tonight's contest after being a healthy scratch against Sweden. He skated with Drew Doughty during Friday's practice.
Sanheim, 28, has six goals and 27 points in 57 games with the Philadelphia Flyers this season.
Projected Team Canada lineup per Mark Masters:
Reinhart - McDavid - Marner
Crosby - MacKinnon - Stone
Hagel - Cirelli - Point
Marchand - Bennett - Jarvis
Toews - Makar
Morrissey - Parayko
Sanheim - Doughty
Binnington starts