Canada’s Makar a game-time decision, Binnington to start versus U.S. at 4 Nations

The long time rivalry between the Canadian and U.S. men's hockey teams will be renewed tonight they take to the ice in Montreal for the 4 Nations Cup.

Cale Makar will do everything he can to step on the ice for Canada on Saturday night.

But head coach Jon Cooper isn’t ready to confirm his top defenceman will be available for the highly anticipated 4 Nations Face-Off matchup against the United States.

“That’ll be a game-time decision,” Cooper said Saturday morning — “but trust me, this won’t be a situation (where) we ever put Cale Makar in harm’s way — so if he’s in the lineup, he’ll be good to go.”

Cooper said goalie Jordan Binnington will start for the second consecutive game.

Makar — an all-situations blueliner who quarterbacks Canada’s loaded top power-play unit — participated in Canada’s morning skate after missing practice Friday with an illness.

The former Norris Trophy winner said the last couple of days have featured “a lot of ups and downs” with his status uncertain.

“Just trying to manage things, trying to put myself in the best spot I can to play tonight,” he said. “We’ll see how this afternoon goes. Feel better today, just kind of go from there and hopefully, obviously, do everything I can to play.”

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.