Deen’s Daily: Canada vs USA Has Potential To Be an Instant Classic

The most anticipated game of the tournament is finally here. What’s the latest on Canada’s blueline?

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — February 15.

4 Nations Face-Off

Is anyone else excited for tonight’s big game? This Canadian couldn’t be more pumped. Hit me with your final score predictions in the comments below.

Cale Makar was absent from Team Canada’s practice on Friday with an illness but coach Jon Cooper said he’s confident his top defenseman will be able to play. If not, it would serve as a massive loss for the Canadians in the most highly anticipated game of the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Hockey Canada was given permission to bring Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley to Montreal to be on standby in case Makar can’t go. Already missing Shea Theodore, the Canadians are down to just six defensemen.

It’s unclear who Team Canada is starting in goal, albeit I’d be surprised if Jordan Binnington doesn’t play again.

I’m excited to see the combination of Matthew and Brady Tkachuk go up against the likes of Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid. It’s no coincidence that Canada is dressing Sam Bennett for this game — Matthew’s teammate in Florida — to offset the physicality of the brothers.

Bennet is joining Brad Marchand and Seth Jarvis on a line while the trio from Tampa Bay — Anthony Cirelli, Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel — make up the other half of the bottom six. Nathan MacKinnon continues to center a line with Mark Stone and Sidney Crosby while Connor McDavid is lined up with Sam Reinhart and Mitch Marner.

I know it probably won’t happen, but if I were Cooper, I’d play Marner with MacKinnon and Crosby and Stone on the McDavid line. It just feels like a better fit to not have Marner and McDavid together. Marner would also be a great playmaker and complement to the Cole Harbour boys.

Either way, this game has all the ingredients to truly be one for the ages.

Colorado Hockey Now

Should Mackenzie Blackwood have played in the 4 Nations Face-Off? Colleen Flynn has more about Canada’s goaltending.

Around the NHL

Vegas Hockey Now: What Theodore’s injury means for Team Canada.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Playoffs and Trades: Forecasting the remainder of the Devils season.

NYI Hockey Now: One thing the Islanders can fix to rapidly improve the team.

Detroit Hockey Now: Jonatan Berggren looks at home under head coach Todd McLellan.

Ottawa Hockey Now: Jake Sanderson was chosen to replace Quinn Hughes for a reason. He’s had an excellent resurgence with the Sens this year. How did he do it?