No better stage than Saturday night in Montreal for Canada versus ...

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Published Feb 14, 2025  •  Last updated 4 hours ago  •  4 minute read

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MONTREAL — The stage is set for a cross-border battle for the ages on Hockey Night in Canada.

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Team Canada against the United States on a Saturday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

It doesn’t get much better than this and these two teams know they will bring out the best in each other. This isn’t only about bragging rights, it’s for pride and to serve notice that, for one night any way, you’re the best of the best in the hockey world.

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“There is no bigger rivalry than Canada-U.S. in hockey,” Team Canada winger Brad Marchand said. “They’re the games that everybody dreams about playing growing up and they’re memories that will last a lifetime.

“We’re all looking forward to it and it can’t come quick enough.”

The rivalry between these two countries is real.

“Growing up as a young kid, when you go play American teams and stuff like that like, you want to beat them so bad and you grow — I don’t want to say a hatred or anything — but you want to beat them so bad,” Canadian defenceman Drew Doughty said.

“And I still have this feeling at 35 years old about how bad you want to beat the Americans. We watched the game last night. They’re a good hockey team. So it’s going to be a tough battle. But, this is probably the most exciting matchup of the tournament.”

Led by a three-point effort from captain Sidney Crosby and Mitch Marner’s overtime winner, Canada was riding sky-high after a 4-3 victory over Team Sweden on Wednesday night to open the tournament.

We saw a heroic performance from Crosby and Team USA coach Mike Sullivan isn’t expecting anything different in this one.

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“Well, what stood out to me is probably the same thing that stood out to you and everybody else that watched, right? He’s a big game player,” Sullivan said. “I’ve witnessed it first-hand for a decade now. Sid tends to be at his best when the stakes are high. That’s what I witnessed the other night.

“I would anticipate he’ll be at his best against us.”

The challenge is different this time around. The Americans are a force to be reckoned with and they confirmed that with the way they took over the third period of a 6-1 victory over Team Finland on Thursday.

With a two-day break in the schedule, coach Jon Cooper and his staff have had time to allow his players to relax and get ready for a game that will be pivotal in determining a path to the tourney final set for Thursday in Boston.

It’s interesting to note that Cooper didn’t name his starter on Friday because Jordan Binnington was only OK against the Swedes. Cooper said he wanted to speak with the goaltenders first, which means there is a chance that Adin Hill has the opportunity to play in this one.

Cooper will be forced to make changes. Canada lost Vegas defenceman Shea Theodore for the tourney with what appeared to be a wrist injury in Game 1 and Philadelphia Flyers blueliner Travis Sanheim will be inserted.

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The Canadian defence is stretched thin without Theodore and it looked even more daunting when Cale Makar didn’t skate because of illness. If he can’t play, then Dallas defenceman Thomas Harley has been permitted to suit up for the country against the United States.

However, Cooper is optimistic Makar will play.

“‘Expect’ is a big word, but I’m confident. I’m confident he’ll be there,” Cooper said.

Judging by the skate in Brossard on Friday, Sam Bennett will play against the States and Philly’s Travis Konecny will be scratched. Cooper also tweaked his bottom-six by skating Marchand and Bennett with Seth Jarvis.

That group will bring an edge and Canada will need it. That could be a response to the American line of Brady and Matthew Tkachuk skating with Jack Eichel because they caused chaos against Finland.

Allowing the Swedes to come back from a two-goal deficit in Game 1 meant that Canada only earned two points for its OT victory. The States leads the standings with three points for its win against Finland.

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If the Canadians lose this game it doesn’t mean it’s all over for them, but it would mean the club loses control of its destiny if Sweden can beat Finland in regulation on Saturday afternoon.

Games like this bring back memories of 2010 in Vancouver when Crosby scored the Golden Goal against the United States to secure a victory at the Winter Olympics.

Connor McDavid was just a kid then hoping to play in the NHL and now here he is a teammate with Crosby.

“I was with some friends. I was playing for the Marlies at the time in the GTHL,” McDavid said. “We all got together to watch the game. I remember it being so exciting to see that goal go in. Every Canadian was excited.”

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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